This an is an incredibly diverse look at American History , as it is looked at through the perspective, and quotes of the Founding Fathers, and other influential figures, and components of our history, given by members of both the oppressed, and non-oppressed groups of society, The book focuses on a vision of the ideal of America, and the illustrations (done by the authors son) paint the picture of the actual goings on of society at those points in time, with the ideal being removed from reality, The illustrations are beautiful, and the writing is equally so, and the books main take away is that even when the state of the country doesn't match its ideals, the hope is that one day that gap will finally be closed, and that the words of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution will finally be true, and we will all be equally American, Because America is all of us, America is 100's of languages and cultures, and we are all just as important and American as the next. This was another outstandingly amazing collaboration between father and son writing and illustrating, with Walter (father) writing, and Christopher (son) illustrating. This book represents the type of history that I want to expose my students to. I want them to know a diverse, true, an inclusive one. This book is multicultural in that it gives perspectives from Americans that are not white, but it is also simply American history in that all the people quoted, and all the people portrayed are all a part of American history. The language in the writing, and the illustrations used to contradict it might be challenging for younger readers. However, I think it is good to challenge our students, and encourage their critical thinking process, and this is a good book for doing just that. That being said, the book would likely be more readily digested by an older audience, like middle school to high school aged students. ( )

This a book of poems about America. I love this book, because I feel it truly embodies what it means to be an American. It gives different point of views of what it means to be American from many different races and times throughout history. The book incorporates so many different times and areas throughout our culture in it's illustrations and words. I feel like today people often forget what it truly means to be born here, and they take that for granted. Reading this book, will remind us how blessed we are to live in this great country of ours. Along with the poems, there are quotes from important people throughout our history like Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and even the Constitution. The book seems to take on a chronological ordering of history, incorporating these quotes into that. In the back of the book, the quotes are further explained with a small paragraph beneath them and a tiny version of the picture they appeared under in the book. There is a lot one could learn from this book. I love the educational history incorporated into the book. I believe this would be a great book for the classroom, or for one's own children. ( )

Summary:
In this poetry book the authors celebrate the trials, tribulations, joys, and successes of the American nation. As you go through the pages the author takes you through the nation's timeline, and talks about being a proud American. In free verse he documents what it means to be American in the nation's peaceful times, through wars, through protests, through journeys as well as including quotes or excerpts from famous documents espousing the rights and liberties of all. The illustrations also feature men, women, and children from a multicultural background, and how they are all striving for better lives.

Personal Reaction:
I loved the pride the author shows in his country, and that he shows we are all from different races; often times children in books are white and not of a diverse population like we teach in. I like that the book also touches on the fact that there were "sins" and how the constitution changed our sins from "light to dark" in the poem "Like Clumsy Children We Fell". I think this a great book to pull poems form when teaching history lessons.

Classroom Extension:
1. I would pick one poem that had to do with the history we were learning in class and print it out for each student. I would then ask my students to interpret what they take from the poem's meaning.

2. After reading a poem each day and writing about the meaning, on Friday I would have my students write what they think the author is overall trying to convey to his readers.

3. I would have my students take the last journal entry and have a class discussion on what they thought the author was conveying and use the text to support why they felt this way.

Diverse voices of America's foundations and struggles, next directions. Poems inspired by voices through America's history, written as a response to 9-11 attacks.

We Are America: A Tribute From the Heart. By Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers. Collins / HarperCollins. 2011. 38 pages. $16.99 hbk. 978-0060523091. Grades 3-9.

A mere review cannot do justice to the father and son duo’s rich, unapologetic, moving take on the USA’s triumphs and failures throughout its past and present. The book-length poem is direct and powerful, as are the vibrant, evocative illustrations of the many races, ethnicities, and identities of the American people: the images’ seamless juxtaposition on each page of vignettes from a range of time periods (such the pairing of the Boston Tea Party ands a civil rights protest fraught with police brutality) amplifies the poem’s message and showcases the contradictions inherent to American ideals. We Are America is a detailed, carefully-crafted experience, whose intricacies allow readers of various ages to absorb as much as they can handle: with younger readers, the work will require explanation of past happenings and frank discussion with a trusted adult; for older readers, more exploration of history may be necessary and further conversation, with peers or an adult, will be crucial. Quotes from famous American figures are embedded throughout to shine light on others’ notions of America – these are explained at the back, where a page-by-page “who’s who” of the illustrations of famous figures is also supplied. This realistic take on America’s past and present offers an important, honest perspective for children, who are so often given a white-washed vision of American history and America today, and still leaves room for faith in the force of individual. The work’s unapologetic vision of its subject may make it seem too advanced for children, but, coupled with developmentally-appropriate adult explanation, this stunning poem should be required reading for young Americans. Highly recommended. ( )