Parents' Guide to The Children's Book of America

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Common Sense Media Review

By Megan Potter , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 6+

Sometimes moralistic stories miss audience.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 6+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

Bennett's patriotism is contagious in this collection of stories about America. He not only promotes the values of European settlers, but also includes Native American values and civil rights leaders in defining moral moments. The writing doesn't always work for the targeted age group, but everyone can enjoy the detailed and expressive art.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

The stories are enhanced by bold, colorful artwork. Artist Michael Hague captures the characters' emotions, and his detailed landscapes bring scenes, such as a battle at sea, to life.

Oddly, while the language and length of the pieces seem right for older children, the tone and structure of the stories speak to younger ones. Older kids may feel they are being spoken down to, while younger kids may get lost or distracted.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about America's vibrant history. What have been some of its greatest successes? What have been some of the biggest challenges in its development?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

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