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A Kids' Guide to America's Bill of Rights: Curfews, Censorship, and the 100-Pound Giant
Which 462 words are so important that they've changed the course of American history more than once? The Bill of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, the crucial document that spells out how the United States is to be governed.
Packed with anecdotes, sidebars, case studies, suggestions for further reading, and humorous illustrations, Kathleen Krull's introduction to the Bill of Rights brings an important topic vividly to life. Whether you're a middle grader or high schooler or even an adult, and whether you're looking to expand your knowledge or to reearch a report, the format of this "kids' guide" makes the information understandable and interesting.
Find out what the Bill of Rights is and how it affects your daily life in this fascinating look at the history, significance, and mysteries of these laws that are designed to protect the individual freedoms of Americans—including young people.
Some of the questions addressed in this easy-to-follow
Why did early American founders argue that individuals needed a Bill of Rights to protect them from government?Why is freedom of speech so thrilling and so controversial?What is religious intolerance, and when can it be fatal?What does it really mean to take the Fifth?How does the Bill of Rights affect the rights of kids?
Packed with anecdotes, sidebars, case studies, suggestions for further reading, and humorous illustrations, Kathleen Krull's introduction to the Bill of Rights brings an important topic vividly to life. Whether you're a middle grader or high schooler or even an adult, and whether you're looking to expand your knowledge or to reearch a report, the format of this "kids' guide" makes the information understandable and interesting.
Find out what the Bill of Rights is and how it affects your daily life in this fascinating look at the history, significance, and mysteries of these laws that are designed to protect the individual freedoms of Americans—including young people.
Some of the questions addressed in this easy-to-follow
Why did early American founders argue that individuals needed a Bill of Rights to protect them from government?Why is freedom of speech so thrilling and so controversial?What is religious intolerance, and when can it be fatal?What does it really mean to take the Fifth?How does the Bill of Rights affect the rights of kids?
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
12 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 8, 2013
A Kids’ Guide to America’s Bill of Rights begins with an overview of the Bill of Rights, the first 10 Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The overview is followed by three chapters about the First Amendment and then includes one chapter about each subsequent Amendment. Each chapter contains the wording of the Amendment, examples to clarify the Amendment, an idea of which rights the authors of the Bill of Rights intended to protect, and a discussion of Supreme Court cases involving the Amendment. Where it is appropriate, Krull compares rights in other countries to the rights guaranteed by the particular Amendment she is discussing. Also where appropriate, Krull discusses the impact of the particular Amendment on kids.
Some of the Amendments, for instance the Eighth Amendment which protects against cruel and unusual punishment, bring up difficult subjects such as capital punishment. Krull deals with these subjects in a very straightforward way, neither shirking from them nor overdramatizing them.
Krull’s political leanings are clear. When discussing the Second Amendment, which guarantees the right to bear arms, Krull lists multiple organizations that support gun control. She also lists the National Rifle Association, which opposes gun control, but she does not list any other organizations that oppose gun control. Some bias is also clear in her text. I did not feel her bias compromised her clarity in discussing each Amendment. However, kids from liberal families might be more comfortable with this book than kids from conservative families.
The illustrations add humor and echo points raised by the text.
The book was published in 1999.
I'd love to see a post 9/11 version of the book.
This book is written with a great deal of reverence for the Bill of Rights. As Krull says in the last sentence of the book "But most people, especially newly arrived immigrants from other countries, will agree: Through the freedom it protects, the Bill of Rights has contributed towards making the United States unlike any other nation on earth.”
Some of the Amendments, for instance the Eighth Amendment which protects against cruel and unusual punishment, bring up difficult subjects such as capital punishment. Krull deals with these subjects in a very straightforward way, neither shirking from them nor overdramatizing them.
Krull’s political leanings are clear. When discussing the Second Amendment, which guarantees the right to bear arms, Krull lists multiple organizations that support gun control. She also lists the National Rifle Association, which opposes gun control, but she does not list any other organizations that oppose gun control. Some bias is also clear in her text. I did not feel her bias compromised her clarity in discussing each Amendment. However, kids from liberal families might be more comfortable with this book than kids from conservative families.
The illustrations add humor and echo points raised by the text.
The book was published in 1999.
I'd love to see a post 9/11 version of the book.
This book is written with a great deal of reverence for the Bill of Rights. As Krull says in the last sentence of the book "But most people, especially newly arrived immigrants from other countries, will agree: Through the freedom it protects, the Bill of Rights has contributed towards making the United States unlike any other nation on earth.”
January 27, 2023
Cute book that teaches the Bill of Rights to children through a lens of court cases and historical moments palatable to a younger audience. The author does a good job of writing in an unbiased manner without agenda. Her purpose seems to be to empower children to understand and interpret their rights as kids in America. There were some examples in this book that would suggest it’s target audience is children a little older (ex. mentions of porn, abortion, drugs, etc.) though all were incorporated very appropriately - good to be aware of.
March 29, 2021
A Kid’s Guide to America’s Bill of Rights is an engaging and non-complicated explanation of the Bill of Rights. It explains each amendment simply and with lots of relevant examples, especially for kids.
I am a centrist, but Krull's political leanings were evident in several parts. I would have loved to see multiple authors from various backgrounds contribute to each chapter. The book did an overall good job at keeping the middle ground, but several statistics weren’t fleshed out well - abortion (it’s vastly unfair to bring “antiabortion” arguments up without getting into the gritty, brutal nature of abortion), pornography (not sure why this was mentioned several times but if you’re going to mention it, please mention revenge porn, trafficking, and child rape that giants like PornHub have continually defended), and the death penalty. In the latter two, more fleshed out discussions would’ve been difficult to portray for the younger age range and I wasn’t opposed to their inclusion, it just does not tell the full story of these debates.
I do appreciate how it brings up difficult subjects that often get neglected. The age range is 8-12, but I think it'd be more appropriate for 10-16. For example, rape is mentioned several times but no definition is given.
I am a centrist, but Krull's political leanings were evident in several parts. I would have loved to see multiple authors from various backgrounds contribute to each chapter. The book did an overall good job at keeping the middle ground, but several statistics weren’t fleshed out well - abortion (it’s vastly unfair to bring “antiabortion” arguments up without getting into the gritty, brutal nature of abortion), pornography (not sure why this was mentioned several times but if you’re going to mention it, please mention revenge porn, trafficking, and child rape that giants like PornHub have continually defended), and the death penalty. In the latter two, more fleshed out discussions would’ve been difficult to portray for the younger age range and I wasn’t opposed to their inclusion, it just does not tell the full story of these debates.
I do appreciate how it brings up difficult subjects that often get neglected. The age range is 8-12, but I think it'd be more appropriate for 10-16. For example, rape is mentioned several times but no definition is given.
October 9, 2017
Great read about the Bill of Rights and what the amendments actually mean! Filled with examples and actual court cases, I recommend this to anyone, not just children, who are interested in our country's government.
November 12, 2011
My parents bought this book for me when I was eight and still convinced that I wanted to be President. Eight years later, it's my go-to for information about the Bill of Rights (especially now that I'm taking AP US History), though I have since abandoned dreams of being the President.
This is a book written for kids, so the book doesn't use difficult language. However, it also doesn't skirt around issues that some might feel should be left out of a kids' book. After all, how well are you going to understand the Miranda Warning and how it came to be if you leave out information like what Ernesto Miranda was accused of? It's honest, and not condescending like other books-for-kids can be.
A KIDS' GUIDE TO AMERICA'S BILL OF RIGHTS explains, pretty thoroughly, how the Bill of Rights came to be, who wrote it, and why it was needed--in the first 20 pages. It goes on to have one chapter devoted to each of the first ten Amendments (with the First Amendment covered in three chapters, due to its importance). It explains what they are, why they're necessary, and what court cases have occurred that drew on that particular amendment. There's two other chapters afterward--one briefly covering the seventeen other amendments, and the other talking about where the Bill of Rights went wrong. The book has an index and suggestions for further reading (which points out books that might be helpful for younger readers). There are illustrations throughout, which are helpful for younger kids, probably, though not my favorite at all.
This book is very readable and enjoyable; I've long since moved out of the "kid" category, but I still read this book from time to time because it's honestly interesting.
This is a book written for kids, so the book doesn't use difficult language. However, it also doesn't skirt around issues that some might feel should be left out of a kids' book. After all, how well are you going to understand the Miranda Warning and how it came to be if you leave out information like what Ernesto Miranda was accused of? It's honest, and not condescending like other books-for-kids can be.
A KIDS' GUIDE TO AMERICA'S BILL OF RIGHTS explains, pretty thoroughly, how the Bill of Rights came to be, who wrote it, and why it was needed--in the first 20 pages. It goes on to have one chapter devoted to each of the first ten Amendments (with the First Amendment covered in three chapters, due to its importance). It explains what they are, why they're necessary, and what court cases have occurred that drew on that particular amendment. There's two other chapters afterward--one briefly covering the seventeen other amendments, and the other talking about where the Bill of Rights went wrong. The book has an index and suggestions for further reading (which points out books that might be helpful for younger readers). There are illustrations throughout, which are helpful for younger kids, probably, though not my favorite at all.
This book is very readable and enjoyable; I've long since moved out of the "kid" category, but I still read this book from time to time because it's honestly interesting.
February 14, 2011
We are learning about the beginnings of our country and how it affected other peoples wanting to democratize or become independent. I picked this book up because it is an accessible way to better understand the important section of the Constitution that the states' representatives demanded be added in order to approve the document that set up the format of the new government. The Bill of RIghts is all about the individual's rights and protection FROM the government. Our founding fathers were very hands-off government oriented, completely the opposite of how things are going today. This book explained in clear and simple language what each amendment means and why it is important, how it affects our lives today. Probably best for 7th grade and up. To get the most out of it requires a lot of discussion with the students. A very empowering book, for any American.
My child is a homeschooling 4th grader. I read this book and talked with her about just a few of the rights and the Constitution as a whole rather than have her read it at this juncture.
My child is a homeschooling 4th grader. I read this book and talked with her about just a few of the rights and the Constitution as a whole rather than have her read it at this juncture.
July 5, 2010
I can't remember how many times we learned about the founding of America, the colonies, the Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and, of course, the Bill of Rights. We rarely got past World War II, but those 50 years or so between 1750 and 1800 were hammered into our brains over and over again. This is a book that would make that hammering a little less painless. It wades through the reasons for the Bill of Rights, the development of the document, key players, and each amendment to the constitution. Fortunately, it does this with cartoonish illustrations and a thread of humor running through plain English. I liked it.
Readers who have to learn about this topic might find this more accessible than other books. It is text-heavy, but the story is told well. Those who are interested in the founding of the country, or our current freedoms and rights, might also enjoy this book. It especially addresses the rights of kids.
Nothing obviously objectionable.
Readers who have to learn about this topic might find this more accessible than other books. It is text-heavy, but the story is told well. Those who are interested in the founding of the country, or our current freedoms and rights, might also enjoy this book. It especially addresses the rights of kids.
Nothing obviously objectionable.
March 16, 2016
An updated and revised version of a 1999 publication about the bill of rights written in easy to read and understand language. Illustrated with black & white line drawings (some very entertaining!) with explanatory captions and loads of sidebars, this is really a great choice for a school library. Chapters focus on each section of the Bill of Rights providing historical context & an overview, Supreme Court decisions, and many, many examples including some that will resonate directly with students – free speech & student newspapers, student athletes & drug testing, Netflix & unwarranted searches, corporal punishment & “cruel and unusual”. Very readable.
October 24, 2016
I read this book as research for a play that I have been asked to write. Really well written and a great overview of the first 10 amendments. Does a great job putting things into context for kids and spelling out what their rights are and how the "adult" world affects them.
September 11, 2009
Brings the Bill of Rights vividly to life...even for me!
October 30, 2008
I learned more about the Bill of Rights from this book than I ever learned in high school I would recommend it to high schoolers taking AP government to make the Supreme Court cases more real.
November 11, 2010
Read it ahead of the girls and set up assignments to go with it. Good civics book!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews