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American Anthem: A Song of Our Nation
Based on the song that President Joe Biden quoted in his inaugural address, this picture book celebrates the beauty and diversity of this country and the legacies on which we build our future.
As President Joe Biden delivered his inaugural address, he quoted from a song that fully captured his own spirit of “The work and prayers of centuries have brought us to this day. What shall be our legacy? What will our children say? Let me know in my heart, when my days are through—America, America, I gave my best to you.” It was a sentiment that spoke not only to our new president’s character, but to the sense of pride in duty and purpose for the sake of a country we hold dear. And it contained a message of quiet patriotism that so many of us hope to share with the next generation.
In this new picture book, using the full text of the song President Biden quoted, we do just that. With words that speak to the soul of our nation, and art from twelve different illustrators, all depicting what America means to them, we take readers on a journey through this beautiful country—its history, its struggles, and its dignity—and throughout, we count our own blessings and think about how we can do more to share them with others, and give our best to our country and everyone in it.
As President Joe Biden delivered his inaugural address, he quoted from a song that fully captured his own spirit of “The work and prayers of centuries have brought us to this day. What shall be our legacy? What will our children say? Let me know in my heart, when my days are through—America, America, I gave my best to you.” It was a sentiment that spoke not only to our new president’s character, but to the sense of pride in duty and purpose for the sake of a country we hold dear. And it contained a message of quiet patriotism that so many of us hope to share with the next generation.
In this new picture book, using the full text of the song President Biden quoted, we do just that. With words that speak to the soul of our nation, and art from twelve different illustrators, all depicting what America means to them, we take readers on a journey through this beautiful country—its history, its struggles, and its dignity—and throughout, we count our own blessings and think about how we can do more to share them with others, and give our best to our country and everyone in it.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published June 29, 2021
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 12, 2021
Thirteen different artists have created illustrations depicting what this nation means to them, and readers will be pleased with the diversity of those images and the notion of service that runs through the pages and the text. The text is actually lyrics and music written in 1998 and quoted by President Joe Biden. Each page reminds readers of the importance of community, self-sacrifice, and a sense of pride as all of us come together to build a better nation. In many respects, the pages trace important political movements concerning social justice and societal change, but others are quite personal, honoring relationships, kindness, and acceptance. It would be hard to choose just one illustration that touched me since I found them all quite lovely and meaningful. It's easy to simply bask in parts of our history while ignoring aspects of it that are quite problematic, but this book seems to encourage readers to do both and then to find ways to do their part to heal the nation's wounds.
July 23, 2021
The classic song lyrics of Gene Scheer were a highlight of President Biden's Inauguration. The twelve stanzas inspired 2-page spread artwork by 13 illustrators (one illustration is done by a pair of sisters).
Two page spreads (no description of mediums used) include:
Fahmida Azim divides her artwork into four sections: an African American chanteuse releasing some white doves (which fly across the spread unifying it into a whole composition), a night-time "skyline" of a Native American community, a nighttime skyline of New York City, and two boys doing schoolwork.
Elizabeth Baddeley shows three generations of a family working together on a giant quilt that features images of peace and creating together, including a Native American woman weaving, Betsy Ross sewing a flag, and a quilt barn.
Matt Faulkner features a diverse crowd of people showing support of causes and giving of themselves to others.
Michelle Lee features a diverse intergenerational group picnicking together.
Rafael López illustrates the concept "from the plains (with mountains behind them) to distant shore", with a diverse child drawing the water's edge with a giant pencil.
Veronica Miller Jamison has three images. Two mirrored on top: one of enslaved runaways becomes an older African American woman reading a book and the other an older African American woman voting and a Black family hiking. Across the bottom in shades of purple are 4 Black Civil War soldiers marching, 4 Memphis sanitation workers striking, and 3 contemporary BLM protesters.
Christine Almeda also divides her spread into two images: a young Filipino girl in her Nipa Hut looking at her future as a Filipine-American working in healthcare.
Edel Rodriguez imagines boat people headed toward the United States (shown as a stylized Statue of Liberty).
James McMullan shows a woman gazing in a mirror and trying to imagine herself as a soldier fighting on the battlefront, a firefighter fighting a blaze, and a health care worker rolling a gurney in a hospital.
Sisters Laura McGee Kvasnosky and Kate Harvey McGee imagine a diverse group of intergenerational people working together in a community garden.
London Ladd focuses on the reassurance and esteem-building that a mother gives to her son.
Jacqueline Alcántara shows a family celebrating together around a campfire on a beach just after sunset.
Backmatter includes the lyrics to the song, sheet music with guitar chords, and illustrator bios.
It would be intriguing to compare these images with others on the internet that have used this song as the basis for their film. Especially moving is this one by the U.S. Marine Corps Band: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LENGf...
Recommended for ages PreSchool-grade 5.
Two page spreads (no description of mediums used) include:
Fahmida Azim divides her artwork into four sections: an African American chanteuse releasing some white doves (which fly across the spread unifying it into a whole composition), a night-time "skyline" of a Native American community, a nighttime skyline of New York City, and two boys doing schoolwork.
Elizabeth Baddeley shows three generations of a family working together on a giant quilt that features images of peace and creating together, including a Native American woman weaving, Betsy Ross sewing a flag, and a quilt barn.
Matt Faulkner features a diverse crowd of people showing support of causes and giving of themselves to others.
Michelle Lee features a diverse intergenerational group picnicking together.
Rafael López illustrates the concept "from the plains (with mountains behind them) to distant shore", with a diverse child drawing the water's edge with a giant pencil.
Veronica Miller Jamison has three images. Two mirrored on top: one of enslaved runaways becomes an older African American woman reading a book and the other an older African American woman voting and a Black family hiking. Across the bottom in shades of purple are 4 Black Civil War soldiers marching, 4 Memphis sanitation workers striking, and 3 contemporary BLM protesters.
Christine Almeda also divides her spread into two images: a young Filipino girl in her Nipa Hut looking at her future as a Filipine-American working in healthcare.
Edel Rodriguez imagines boat people headed toward the United States (shown as a stylized Statue of Liberty).
James McMullan shows a woman gazing in a mirror and trying to imagine herself as a soldier fighting on the battlefront, a firefighter fighting a blaze, and a health care worker rolling a gurney in a hospital.
Sisters Laura McGee Kvasnosky and Kate Harvey McGee imagine a diverse group of intergenerational people working together in a community garden.
London Ladd focuses on the reassurance and esteem-building that a mother gives to her son.
Jacqueline Alcántara shows a family celebrating together around a campfire on a beach just after sunset.
Backmatter includes the lyrics to the song, sheet music with guitar chords, and illustrator bios.
It would be intriguing to compare these images with others on the internet that have used this song as the basis for their film. Especially moving is this one by the U.S. Marine Corps Band: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LENGf...
Recommended for ages PreSchool-grade 5.
September 11, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LENGf... for the music.
I can't read sheet music (given in the book) and the text just doesn't read well as prose. But the song, as sung in the linked video, is powerful.
The glory of the book is the art. Thirteen different visions, every single one of which is beautiful and hits me right in the heart.
I just don't know to whom I'd recommend this. Veterans? Children of soldiers? Possibly any children, if the parent or other educator loves the book more than I do, or could sing it themself.
I can't read sheet music (given in the book) and the text just doesn't read well as prose. But the song, as sung in the linked video, is powerful.
The glory of the book is the art. Thirteen different visions, every single one of which is beautiful and hits me right in the heart.
I just don't know to whom I'd recommend this. Veterans? Children of soldiers? Possibly any children, if the parent or other educator loves the book more than I do, or could sing it themself.
December 14, 2021
I only learned about Gene Scheer and his incredible song a few months ago. Then I learned about this book and wanted a copy. My sister gave me a Christmas B&N gift card. Now I had the perfect opportunity to buy it. It is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!--both the lyrics of the song and the illustrations. It would be a wonderful Christmas gift.
Want to read
May 16, 2022Introduced to the illustrations of Fahmida Azim in "Yes We Will: Asian Americans who shaped this country"
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews