Weekly Trip to the Library
American’s celebrate their Independence from Great Britain on the 4th of July. Independence Day is commonly celebrated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, picnics, concerts, political speeches and ceremonies celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States.
Get the kids in your care in the mood for the holiday by borrowing the books listed below from the library.
You can also purchase any of the books simply by clicking on the title of the books listed below.
The Fourth of July Story by Alice Dalgliesh
The thirteen colonies unite in the desire for independence. They select Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence. The news carried of independence across the colonial settlements. A great read aloud for younger children.
Fireworks, Picnics, and Flags: The Story of the Fourth of July Symbols by James Cross Giblin
This spirited look at our national birthday explores the stories behind the familiar symbols of the Fourth of July and tells how they have come to be associated with the holiday. It will make the Fourth of July more meaningful for readers young and old. James Cross Giblin is an editor of children’s books who also writes for children. He edited the Clarion holiday series started by the late Edna Barth. Ursula Arndt brings to this book the same delightful style she employed as illustrator of the six Barth holiday books. This title, along with all of Edna Barth’s classic holiday books, is now being reissued with a fresh, new jacket design and fun activities inside the paperback covers.
America the Beautiful by Katharine Lee Bates
This book offers beautiful illustrations to accompany the Bate’s song of “America, the Beautiful.” There are wonderful images of the Statue of Liberty, Pike’s Peak, immigrants, the Apollo II, the firemen of Sept. 11th, and the WWII Tuskegee Airmen. There are wonderfully colorful and powerful illustrations! Enjoy the refreshing and unique interpretations of each phrase.
Hats off for the Fourth of July by Harriet Ziefert
This book captures the essence of small town Fourth of July celebrations everywhere – from a plane trail advertising banner, Uncle Sam on stilts, the Little League, the High School Band, the baton twirler, the beauty queen winner, and the final fireworks display through short sentences, repetition and rhyme.
Apple Pie Fourth of July By Janet S. Wong
A Chinese-American girl helps her parents open their small neighborhood grocery store every day of the year. However, today is the Fourth of July and her parents just don’t understand that customers won’t be ordering chow mein and sweet-and-sour pork on this very American holiday. As she spends the day working in the store and watching the local parade, she can’t shake her anxiety about her parents’ naivity. When evening arrives along with hungry customers looking “for some Chinese food to go,” she is surprised but obviously proud that her parents were right after all: Americans do eat Chinese food on the Fourth of July. Nighttime finds the family atop their roof enjoying fireworks and sharing a neighbor’s apple pie.
Author and illustrator Wendy Watson celebrates Independence Day in America with this cheerful book for preschoolers and early readers. Tracking a family through their summer holiday, Watson begins, “Crack! Pop! Snap! Wake up, everybody–today is the Fourth of July. It’s America’s birthday!” The next pages proclaim, “Everything is red, white, and blue, even breakfast,” and the lively illustration’s accompanying verse reads, “Strawberry, blueberry, cream of tartum, tell me the initials of your sweetheartum!” Young children will enjoy the silly, often quirky traditional poems and songs, as well as the colorful, cartoonish depictions of a small-town family’s Fourth of July romp.
It’s the Fourth of July fair! There are fireworks, parades, pies, games . . . and a jinx? When everything starts going wrong, Milo and Jazz must find out: is it really a jinx–or is it sabotage? With the help of their pen pal, private eye Dash Marlowe, the main characters of the book, Milo and Jazz, discover why everything seems to be going wrong at the 4th of July fair. The story is simple, and children will enjoy solving the mystery. Black-and-white spot art appears frequently throughout, creating a text that will not intimidate children just starting to read chapter books.
Whoopee—it’s a 4th of July parade! Kids will happily join the celebration as marching feet keep the beat, big brass bands pass the stands, and decorated floats roll along. Rick Brown’s art makes everything look grand, from the fife and drum players to the flags flying high.
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