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Unite or Die: How Thirteen States Became a Nation
Learn the history of the young United States and how the original thirteen colonies wrote the Constitution in this humorous introduction to American history told through a classroom play.
Readers will follow the children of Forest Lake Elementary School as they trod the boards in a dramatic reenactment of the writing of the United States Constitution. After the Revolution, the United States was anything but united. The states acted like thirteen separate countries, with their own governments, laws, and currencies. It took bravery, smarts, and a lot of compromises to create a workable system of government under the new constitution.
Full of facts about our fledgling democracy, the call for a national government, and the Constitutional Convention, this book presents American history with personality, good humor, and energy.
Readers will follow the children of Forest Lake Elementary School as they trod the boards in a dramatic reenactment of the writing of the United States Constitution. After the Revolution, the United States was anything but united. The states acted like thirteen separate countries, with their own governments, laws, and currencies. It took bravery, smarts, and a lot of compromises to create a workable system of government under the new constitution.
Full of facts about our fledgling democracy, the call for a national government, and the Constitutional Convention, this book presents American history with personality, good humor, and energy.
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Jacqueline Jules
82 books91 followersI am a children's author, teacher, librarian, and poet. My books include the Zapato Power series, the Sofia Martinez series, Pluto is Peeved, Unite or Die: How Thirteen States Became a Nation, Duck for Turkey Day, Never Say a Mean Word Again, and Feathers for Peacock. Please visit me at http://www.jacquelinejules.com
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 26, 2009
A very kid-friendly way to present the topic, this book was easy and interesting to read, and I learned a thing or two from it. The afterword, notes (about the information on each page), and bibliography provided lots of extra and supporting "stuff." I did not like the illustrations, and I'm afraid they are keeping me from giving this book more stars. I don't mind the cartooney-ness of them, but it was distracting that so many characters on so many pages looked like angry vampires.
July 13, 2017
Should not mix wishful thinking with the truth of how this occurred. People of color are over-represented throughout in these drawings; best way I can say it.
June 11, 2018
Must bookmark for when Gavin learns about the Constitution.
September 5, 2018
Fun way for kids to learn topic of how the states came together to agree on one government and constitution on an otherwise dry subject!
August 24, 2020
This book was fun because it told us how the thirteen colonies became one country after the revolutionary war.
February 28, 2023
Fun, fun fun. Sure we have heard of the Articles of Confederation and the Virginia Compromise and the New Jersey Plan, but who really remembers much about them? This book could help lots of kids (and adults, on occasion) better understand how our system of government came about.
After the war for independence, there really wasn’t much of a United States of America. There were just thirteen separate states. Problems. One big problem was money. Each state printed its own. States wouldn’t accept the money of other states. And who would fight for these thirteen separate states?
Finally, fifty-five men came together from twelve states (no Rhode Island) to figure things out and the result was the amazing Constitution of the United States. It still works today because of the brilliance and cooperation of those who met together to create this document.
Cold hard facts are the text of this book, but it is the fun illustrations that really explain and expound upon the the subject. It is the illustrations that kept me reading along. Very kid friendly. And for a subject that can be way over the heads of many ten year olds.
An afterword explains the process of the Constitution in detail as does a notes section that expands upon the most complicated parts of the book in a clever question-answer format. The book also includes a web link to the Constitution with an invitation to read the document for oneself and a lengthy bibliography.
Here’s a sample:
‘(text) This wasn’t an easy idea to accept, especially for the small states like New Jersey and Delaware, who were afraid the big states would outvote them in Congress.
(from the cartoon balloons) Pennsylvania: “Sure, the number of delegates will be based on population. What’s wrong with that?”
Delaware: “Everything! If you have more delegates, you’ll have more votes than I do.”
North Carolina: “But you’re not even half my size. Why should you have the same number of votes?”’
After the war for independence, there really wasn’t much of a United States of America. There were just thirteen separate states. Problems. One big problem was money. Each state printed its own. States wouldn’t accept the money of other states. And who would fight for these thirteen separate states?
Finally, fifty-five men came together from twelve states (no Rhode Island) to figure things out and the result was the amazing Constitution of the United States. It still works today because of the brilliance and cooperation of those who met together to create this document.
Cold hard facts are the text of this book, but it is the fun illustrations that really explain and expound upon the the subject. It is the illustrations that kept me reading along. Very kid friendly. And for a subject that can be way over the heads of many ten year olds.
An afterword explains the process of the Constitution in detail as does a notes section that expands upon the most complicated parts of the book in a clever question-answer format. The book also includes a web link to the Constitution with an invitation to read the document for oneself and a lengthy bibliography.
Here’s a sample:
‘(text) This wasn’t an easy idea to accept, especially for the small states like New Jersey and Delaware, who were afraid the big states would outvote them in Congress.
(from the cartoon balloons) Pennsylvania: “Sure, the number of delegates will be based on population. What’s wrong with that?”
Delaware: “Everything! If you have more delegates, you’ll have more votes than I do.”
North Carolina: “But you’re not even half my size. Why should you have the same number of votes?”’
Read
September 14, 2010This is essentially a book about the founding of the U.S. Constitution meant for grade schoolers, but you might not get that from the rather threatening title, Unite or Die. The book's narrative content and form is, in fact, anything but threatening or even mildly ominous or horrific (no threats of death or death threats to be found), which only adds to peculiarity of the title. But forget about that.
The real marvel is the story's (meta-)structural conceit, involving a bunch of grade schoolers staging a play about the Constitution's historical formation. I say "marvel" because it allowed the authors to, in turn, allow children of different races and genders to play the founding fathers against historical veracity—so, for example, George Washington, the star of the show, is played onstage by a black child with a white wig. A real marvel. Included is an afterword with some answers to questions that may arise from the book, but apparently no answer for why the kid with googly eyes was chosen to play the state of Pennsylvania.
The real marvel is the story's (meta-)structural conceit, involving a bunch of grade schoolers staging a play about the Constitution's historical formation. I say "marvel" because it allowed the authors to, in turn, allow children of different races and genders to play the founding fathers against historical veracity—so, for example, George Washington, the star of the show, is played onstage by a black child with a white wig. A real marvel. Included is an afterword with some answers to questions that may arise from the book, but apparently no answer for why the kid with googly eyes was chosen to play the state of Pennsylvania.
September 13, 2013
Summary - Presents the road to the Constitution as told by students in a play.
Curriculum Connection - This would be a good way to celebrate Constitution Day with younger students.
Personal Reaction - I thought the author did a good job of presenting the challenges the founding fathers faced in meeting the needs and desires of the different states, in a way that is understandable to young students. I also liked the idea of it being presented as a play with students dressed as the states. I read/watched this on Tumblebooks and I think that would make the book even more interesting and engaging to students because it does play more like a moving play than just a read aloud.
Visual Appeal - I loved the illustrations and the idea of using students dressed as states. The design itself reminded me of an update version of Schoolhouse Rocks, cartoony but not overly so.
Intended Audience - Third to fifth grade, about eight to ten years old.
Curriculum Connection - This would be a good way to celebrate Constitution Day with younger students.
Personal Reaction - I thought the author did a good job of presenting the challenges the founding fathers faced in meeting the needs and desires of the different states, in a way that is understandable to young students. I also liked the idea of it being presented as a play with students dressed as the states. I read/watched this on Tumblebooks and I think that would make the book even more interesting and engaging to students because it does play more like a moving play than just a read aloud.
Visual Appeal - I loved the illustrations and the idea of using students dressed as states. The design itself reminded me of an update version of Schoolhouse Rocks, cartoony but not overly so.
Intended Audience - Third to fifth grade, about eight to ten years old.
July 21, 2012
Themes: United States Constitution, 13 Colonies, government,US History 1783-1815
This is a fun, quirky book that explains how the US Constitution came to be in our country. Students are dressed in costumes of 13 colonies and they are putting on a play about the political process our country went through to write the US Constitution. It boarders on graphic novel and is written with cute & humorous speech bubbles that will easily engage students.
Uses in the classroom: Great follow up to a lesson on the Constitution. There is a 4 page Reader's Theater on the author's website that kids would love to act out. It is made for 18 characters and would be a great alternative to a writing assignment.
This is a fun, quirky book that explains how the US Constitution came to be in our country. Students are dressed in costumes of 13 colonies and they are putting on a play about the political process our country went through to write the US Constitution. It boarders on graphic novel and is written with cute & humorous speech bubbles that will easily engage students.
Uses in the classroom: Great follow up to a lesson on the Constitution. There is a 4 page Reader's Theater on the author's website that kids would love to act out. It is made for 18 characters and would be a great alternative to a writing assignment.
July 24, 2014
I'm not sure what age this book is meant for. My 11-year-old liked it but it was too long for my 7-year-old.
Each page has a summary plus the kids acting out their parts in a play. For example, the first page says, "On September 3, 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed, officially ending the American Revolution. Thirteen colonies had won their independence from England. A new country was born." It then has 3 kids wearing state costumes that say, "Hooray! Freedom!", "Now we can govern ourselves.", and "Are we ready?".
When the story is done, the last few pages are filled with questions and answers (Why wasn't the country united?, Who printed the money?, Who owned Vermont?, etc).
Each page has a summary plus the kids acting out their parts in a play. For example, the first page says, "On September 3, 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed, officially ending the American Revolution. Thirteen colonies had won their independence from England. A new country was born." It then has 3 kids wearing state costumes that say, "Hooray! Freedom!", "Now we can govern ourselves.", and "Are we ready?".
When the story is done, the last few pages are filled with questions and answers (Why wasn't the country united?, Who printed the money?, Who owned Vermont?, etc).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2011
A cute grade-level book about the founding of the nation and the thought process that went into the Constitution. Graphic novel style makes it accessible to kids of all ages. The illustrations leave much to be desired. When I looked at the first page with kids on it, I thought it was going to be a book about vampire children in a school play! How many kids do you know that their incisor teeth stick out of their mouths? And then their are the faces drawn with the nose where the ear should be. A little off putting.
April 26, 2009
This entertaining picture book gives a great overview of the creation of the American Constitution. In clear, concise text Jacqueline Jules explains why we needed a central government and how the thirteen states went about creating one. Jef Czekaj's illustrations make it fun as the information is presented through kids dressed as states and forefathers doing a school play. Highly recommended.
Full review on my blog:
http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/200...
Full review on my blog:
http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/200...
November 22, 2010
This book does a great job of letting kids read about what happened after we won the American Revolution. The charcters of this book put on a play about how the 13 states (colonies) became a nation. The play opens with the signing of the Treaty of Paris 1783 and ends with the signing of the Constitution in 1787. Then if gives a bunch of historical notes at the end of the book. It would be a great book to read after you finish up the Revolutionary War Unit.
March 24, 2009
The reader's theater style dialog and illustrations make this a fun way to teach kids some important facts from our history. I'm taking this home for my 4th grader, who is having too much history crammed down her throat too quickly so that she can forget most of it after the standardized test in May.
February 12, 2013
1. How 13 states became a nation
2. American history
3. American revolution
4. George Washington
5. Lesson plan: make a timeline with dates in the book
Very funny, good pictures, great for read aloud
2. American history
3. American revolution
4. George Washington
5. Lesson plan: make a timeline with dates in the book
Very funny, good pictures, great for read aloud
Read
October 25, 2013The kids in this cartoon-style book didn't know much about the writing of the U.S. Constitution before putting on a class play about it. Now you, too, can learn and laugh and applaud yourself for knowing the exciting story of this very important document.
March 27, 2009
Clever way to get kids reading about the early history of our nation. Would make a good springboard for creative history projects in the classroom.
June 20, 2013
An excellent, child-aimed synopsis of how the Constitution of the United States came about.
February 24, 2010
cartoon play put on my a elementary class about the 13 colonies adopting the Constitution. Very informative. I like how the kids are dressed up as the 13 states.
April 11, 2012
Great class performance of how Thirteen States Became a Union. Perfect complimentary book with Those Rebels John and Tom by Kerley.
May 10, 2012
Well done.
August 18, 2012
Really clever book that brings interest to younger readers by representing the colonies and the transition to nationhood through a play at a school. Helpful facts in the back
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September 3, 2012True story: my kids got things right on standardized tests because of things they remembered from this book.
December 30, 2012
Very well done with a great combination of text and speech bubbles. Very accessible for elementary students.
July 16, 2014
Liked the idea of this, but I don't agree completely with some of the wording. "Living document" interpretation, etc.
July 10, 2014
Such a fantastic kids' version of how the Constitution came about.
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May 18, 2015Will be added to the Future Folarin Progeny library.
October 6, 2015
Potentially quite good, but the format was pretty cheesy.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews