Coming Soon!
Francis Scott Key's Star-Spangled Banner
COMING JANUARY 24, 2012, FROM RANDOM HOUSE
The following title has been reviewed in the December 15, 2011 issue of Booklist:
Francis Scott Key's Star-Spangled Banner by Monica Kulling, illustrated by Richard Walz
Details about the writing of our national anthem could be a lot for beginning readers to handle, but this entry in the Step into Reading series manages to include quite a bit without overwhelming or oversimplifying. Much of the text is about the War of 1812, but readers will also learn details about Francis Scott Key and what led him to write his famous work. Colorful cartoon drawings showing a good amount of the action accompany text set in an appealing large and well-spaced type. As the purpose of this is to appeal to the beginning reader rather than to be used for research, children will have to look elsewhere for the lyrics or other additional information. There is a brief afterword with tidbits about the Fort McHenry flag and an accompanying photo. Many titles exist on this subject, but few are for this level of reader; however, Lynea Bowdish's Francis Scott Key and "The Star-Spangled Banner" (2002) would be a good pairing.
-- Randall Enos
Going Up!: Elisha Otis's Trip To The Top
COMING FROM TUNDRA BOOKS IN FALL 2012