Picture Books Perfect for Flag Day, Independence Day & More!

 

Disclosure:  I was sent copies of these books in order to provide honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

June 14th is Flag Day in the United States. It is a day to remember the adoption of the red, white, and blue flag on June 14, 1777 by the Second Continental Congress. I liked to celebrate Flag Day with Hazel by reading books about the flag and doing flag crafts. Today we are going to share two picture books themed around the flag. One relates the flag to our country with colors and words. The book is Blue Sky White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus and illustrated by Kadir Nelson. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

About the Book:

An inspiring and patriotic tribute to the beauty of the American flag, a symbol of America’s history, landscape, and people, illustrated by New York Times bestselling and Caldecott-honor winning artist Kadir Nelson

Wonderfully spare, deceptively simple verses pair with richly evocative paintings to celebrate the iconic imagery of our nation, beginning with the American flag. Each spread, sumptuously illustrated by award-winning artist Kadir Nelson, depicts a stirring tableau, from the view of the Statue of Library at Ellis Island to civil rights marchers shoulder to shoulder, to a spacecraft at Cape Canaveral blasting off. This book is an ode to America then and now, from sea to shining sea.

From Me:

This book is a play on words. It describes the flag and uses the same words to describe a scene from the United States. With the sample pages the white stars in the blue sky around the Statue of Liberty to the blue rectangle on the flag with the white stars. Besides the colors there are comparisons like sea waves and see waves (in the flag) and sew together won nation and so together one nation. The book is diverse and beautiful. It shares a look at the country as well as the amazing flag. It goes through some history. It has Civil Rights Movements and Abraham Lincoln. It has baseball as well as a Black veteran sitting on a porch with a child, radio and Cracker Jacks. This book is truly about the country being a melting pot and full of diverse people and still being one nation. 

It is the perfect book for Flag Day as well as a look at America and what our ideals are. It has our past, symbols and more as well as our future. It reminds us about the great parts of our country. Want to teach kids more about the positives in our country during this crazy time, this book does it. 

The next book shares a look at the Black patriotism. In fact the Author's Note is subtitled "Patriotism in the Black Community." The book is My Red, White, and Blue by Alana Tyson and illustrated by London Ladd. It is also recommended for ages 4 to 8.

About the Book: 

A powerful story about the mixture of pride and pain that one Black family finds in the American flag, and an invitation for each of us to choose how we relate to America, its history, and the flag that means so many things to so many people.

What does the American flag mean to you?

For some, it’s a vision of hope and opportunity. For others, it represents pain and loss. And for many, it’s more complicated than that—a symbol of a nation where the basic ideas of freedom and equality are still up for debate.

From slavery and segregation through Rosa Parks and Barack Obama, the history of Black people in America is a mixture of pride and pain. And while the flag might mean different things to different people, with some choosing to kneel and others to salute, ultimately, it is up to each of us to decide: the American flag is ours to see and relate to as we choose.

In this powerfully validating story that showcases many facets of Black American history through the eyes of a young Black boy in conversation with his grandfather, we are all invited to choose how to relate to America, and to the flag that means so many things to so many people.

From Me:

This book truly asks the reader what the flag means to them. A young Black boy shares how the flag is a symbol for freedom and hope. It also is shared with the community and unites the people. He also shares how his grandfather told him about the history of Black people in the United States--in particular the time of segregation. It talks about how freedom was not given to everyone and how there are still issues. The book shares how some people choose to protest like taking a knee and how it is a person's choice on how they see the flag. 

So is it hope and freedom or are the ideals of the flag so far away we should not honor it? Even as a white woman I have that question at times. This book shares points for everyone to think about with amazing illustrations. It explains much of the past ant things people question in an age appropriate manner. It is a powerful story which will give many people some things to think about.

This book is perfect to get kids (and adults) thinking about the meaning of the flag to them. It helps give a point of view of Black citizens and why some people resist honoring the flag. It is eye opening and truly makes the reader think.