Happy Birthday, America

by Mary Pope Osborne

Book Overview

Mary Pope Osborne celebrates July 4th, the most American of holidays, with a warm family story. Three generations enjoy parades, popcorn, "Yankee Doodle," and at the end of the day, lightning bugs and fireworks. "Then I blow out the stars, as if they were candles on a giant birthday cake" - a glorous image in Peter Catalanotto's glowing and buoyant watercolors.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0761316752
• ISBN13: 9780761316756
• Release Date: April 2003
• Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.4" x 10.3"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

My hometown

Bought it because the story and illustrations are based on my homr town's Fourth of July festivities

Sweet story

My daughter brought this home from the school library and I'm ordering our own copy today. I completely agree with the first reviewer. This is a very nice, simple story about lots of traditional activities on the 4th of July. Makes me want summer to hurry up and arrive! We love the Magic Tree House series, and Mary Pope Osborne has created another wonderful book.

This book is a celebration.

An extended American family celebrates a traditional 4th of July, in this lovely picture book. Starting the day with a children's parade, enjoying pizza and popcorn, buying tickets for a raffle, then enjoying carnival activities, face painting, balloons, and finally ending the day with a barbecue, and concert under the stars with fireworks finale, the family has a wonderful time celebrating Independence Day. The illustrations are a little hazy, very nostalgic and timeless, with colors that depict the warmth and fun of the day. Any child who has ever attended a city park 4th of July celebration will recognize the activities depicted here. The text is short and simple enough to be included in a patriotic themed storytime for preschoolers. This will be a great addition to a holiday collection for which not that many books for children have been written.