November 1, 2017
Gr 2-5-This series chronicles the development of well-known U.S. landmarks. Kids learn that the Gateway Arch is symbolic of St. Louis being a gateway to the west and that an artist named Lei Yixin was the sculptor of the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial. Handsome photographs are plentiful in all of the books, adding to their appeal. However, there are a few questionable moments. Mentions of American Indians in Yellowstone are spare, and the term enemy alien appears in the text and is listed in the glossary in Ellis Island. VERDICT An appealing design will make these popular introductions among those curious about U.S. history and geography.
Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
October 1, 2017
Grades 3-5 Completed in 2011 in Washington, D.C., the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial honors the man's life, words, and legacy. In presenting the topic for children, Mattern initially discusses Dr. King's background and his work in the civil rights movement. Next, she reports on the process of creating and dedicating the memorial. Finally, Mattern describes the experience of visiting it. Because more than half the book's space is devoted to illustrations, mainly color photos, only two or three paragraphs of text appear on each double-page spread. The writing is competent, if sometimes repetitive. Archival black-and-white photos illustrate the historical information, while colorful shots offer some attractive views of the memorial. From the Let's Celebrate America series, here's a serviceable introduction to a topic that's underrepresented on library shelves.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)