I Pledge Allegiance

by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson

Book Overview

With simple, straightforward language and playfully quirky illustrations, a team of celebrated children's book creators takes a look at each word of the Pledge of Allegiance -- and explains what it means. "I led a pigeon to the flag" . . . "and to the wee puppet" . . . "one nation, and a vegetable" . . . What was that again? Children in the United States of America have been reciting the Pledge of Allegiance since 1892 - and for about that long, they've found its big words confusing. Now, beloved children's book author Bill Martin Jr (BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR, WHAT DO YOU SEE?), fellow literacy expert Michael Sampson, and Caldecott Honor-winning artist Chris Raschka give America's children a hand, and explain this patriotic poem once and for all. Written especially for children, the Pledge of Allegiance was first recited on October 12, 1892, by 12 million children across the country and has been memorized by generations of children ever since. Isn't it time they understood the meaning behind its words?

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0763616486
• ISBN13: 9780763616489
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 1.04 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 10.5" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 6 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 4

Customer Reviews

I Pledge Allegiance

Wonderful Book! This is a great way to teach little kids what the meaning of the flag is to our great country. My 5 year old and 2 year old are already reciting the pledge.

It already has 50 stars

I think this is a nice book to teach a child the pledge of allegiance and to explain to them what the pledge means. This book breaks down the meaning of each word and explains them in a way that children can understand. It gives the history of the pledge, a little about the flag, what to do while saying the pledge and touches on what this great country is all about. From other reviews I have read, it appears that Francis Bellamy, who authored the pledge, did not include the line "...under God". Nonetheless, it was included in this book and is the version of the pledge that I recited every morning during my school years...and it is the version I will teach my daughter.

I Pledge Allegiance by Bill Martin Jr

Very well-written book. It could use more historical information about the topic addressed. For example, the early Pledge of Allegiance was the origin of the stiff-arm salute. The Pledge was written (1892) by Francis Bellamy, cousin to an infamous author of the time, Edward Bellamy, and they were both self-proclaimed socialists in the Nationalism movement and promoted military socialism. They wanted government to take over all schools and impose robotic chanting to flags. The Pledge was the origin of the salute of the National Socialist German Workers Party. American socialists (Edward Bellamy teamed with the Theosophical Society) also bear some blame for German socialism's notorious flag symbol, which evolved into overlapping S-letters for socialism under the National Socialist German Workers Party. The Pledge's early salute was not an ancient Roman salute, and the 'ancient Roman salute' myth came from the Pledge Of Allegiance. It is amazing that books don't examine the issue of whether the pledge should be dropped entirely, especially for young children in government schools. The socialist dogma led to the socialist Wholecost: 60 million dead under the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; 50 million under the Peoples' Republic of China; 20 million under the National Socialist German Workers Party. It might be the most tragic part of world history.

What Our Pledge Really Means.....

Every morning millions of children stand and face the flag, place their hands over their hearts, and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. But what do these 31 words really mean? Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson have taken the pledge apart, and explained each word (pledge: A pledge is a promise), or phrase (one nation: Our states and territories have bonded together to form one nation. One nation means one country), in simple, kid-friendly language. Add to that some history, fun facts, witty asides, and the clever artwork of award winning illustrator, Chris Raschka, and you have the makings of an engaging, entertaining, and informative book. Perfect for youngsters 6 and older, I Pledge Allegiance is a creative and straightforward look at the meaning behind America's most often recited words, and works well with Syl Sobel's Our Pledge Of Allegiance.