An American ABC

From "A is for America, the land I love," to "Z is for Zeal, an American trait," this patriotic alphabet book from 1941 explores concepts, events and historical figures that are important in American history and to the American identity. Less of a picture-book than an illustrated collection of

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vignettes, all arranged alphabetically, it is part of Maud and Miska Petersham's series of This Is America books, and includes brief entries on George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, on the Liberty Bell and Old Glory, and on the Jamestown Colony and Valley Forge.

Chosen as a Caldecott Honor book in 1942 - other titles chosen that year include In My Mother's House, Paddle-to-the-Sea and Nothing At All - this title is very much a product of its times, reflecting the heightened levels of nationalistic feeling during the World War II era, as well as some of the outdated notions of non-European peoples abroad in the culture during that period. The page on the "Redskins," in particular, made me cringe. That said, it was interesting to see a book written by Maud and Miska Petersham themselves, as I am familiar with them primarily through their illustrations for other authors' books, from Elizabeth Cleveland Miller's Pran Of Albania, which was a Newbery Honor Book in 1930, to Olive Beaupré Miller's gorgeous collection, Tales Told in Holland. I enjoy the Petershams' vividly colorful artwork - one of the copies of Heidi that I own is illustrated by them - so I was appreciative on that score, even though I found the text less-than-pleasing. Recommended primarily to Caldecott completists, and to fans of Maud and Miska Petersham.

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