A is for America

A is for America

By: Tanya Lee Stone 

Grade Level: K-1
Genre: Informational/Non-Fiction

Have you ever wondered about the history of the United States? Are you curious about the people and documents that contributed to the country we live in today? Now is your chance to experience history is a fun and meaningful way in the book, A is for America by Tanya Lee Stone. This book is jam-packed with factual information all according to the letters of the alphabet!

The book contains a variety of historical information ranging from Martin Luther King Jr. To Mount Rushmore. In one simple sentence, per alphabetic letter, this book defines major parts of American history. There is information on people, such as Betsy Ross and Harriet Tubman, as well as information on symbols, such as Uncle Sam and the American flag. It even includes alphabet letters for the branches of government as well as definitions for the documents we live by each day. Each letter represents a new idea and includes a fun, rhyming definition that explains its importance.

This non-fiction book is a great addition for any classroom. It’s easy to read and the design of the book is fantastic. The illustrations are composed of cartoon characters, the alphabet letters are bold, and the terms in the book are in big letters. My only complaint is the organization of the ideas. The book really jumps back and forth to various points in  history as well as jumps back and forth to various ideas. The book will begin by defining a person, then to a symbol, which can then lead to a definition of the Supreme Court. I know the book is in alphabetical order, but there are many ideas presented at once that could be confusing for beginning readers. In contrast, the design is very reader friendly and it will attract readers to this non-fiction book.

The style of the writing in the book is another reader friendly feature. The book is composed of fun rhymes which most children love. I originally thought the rhymes would take away from the content, but they add character to the book, and the overall language used is very appropriate. For example, we see the words, “formal” when talking about the oval room, and the word “regal” when discussing the Statue of Liberty. Some students may trip over words such as these, but challenging vocabulary can be necessary for the author to thoroughly explain these informational ideas.

One of the best parts of this book is the way the author explains the information. It’s very accurate and simplistic, as well as offers an insight to the reader as an American citizen. For example, Stone says “All men are created equal is an idea that we hold high.” The book reflects the values and beliefs of American culture. I like how Stone was able to incorporate accurate information and values in a rhyming form. It’s very creative and shows her love for history.

Overall, this book is great for the classroom. It’s fun to read and the illustrations really grab the reader’s attention. The author clearly put a lot of thought and energy into the style and content of the book, which all young readers can learn from. It’s full of factual information and not many informational books offer such a fun way to learn. The book may be broad, but it may be enough to spark a student’s interest in American history. 

ELA Standards:

 GRADES 1-2:

• 7.2 Recognize and produce rhyming words.

    *7.4  Demonstrate understanding of the various features of written English:

·  know the order of the letters in the alphabet;