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Product Description Have you ever wondered why the American colors are red, white, and blue? Did you know that our national mascot was almost a turkey rather than a bald eagle? Can you trace your family's ancestry back to the Mayflower Pilgrims, or perhaps to a cowboy of the Old West? Do you think you would like to spend Thanksgiving watching footraces rather than televised football or eating venison and oysters rather than turkey? Many of us have played with Lincoln Logs, but did you know that they were named after President Abraham Lincoln, who was born in a log cabin? Symbols have always played a crucial role in shaping our identity as a country. The American buffalo, the Statue of Liberty, the Mayflower, and Uncle Sam himself have all helped convey to the world the American values of liberty and democracy. Delno and Jean West's lively prose unveils the stories behind America's symbols, complemented by Christopher Manson's handsome woodcuts, which perfectly convey the rugged individualism of the American spirit. From Publishers Weekly This meager volume offers brief, sometimes sketchy descriptions of 15 American emblems that range from specific objects (the Liberty Bell, the Mayflower) to more generic staples of American history and lore (the Pilgrim, log cabin, buffalo, cowboy). The Wests (Braving the North Atlantic) present some lively snippets of trivia, including an explanation of the lyrics to "Yankee Doodle" (e.g., "macaroni" was the name of a hairstyle fashionable in mid-18th-century London). Unfortunately, grammatical flaws and wordiness plague many of the entries; discussing "the minuteman," the authors write, "Unlike some nations where a full-time professional army protects its citizens, American soldiers serve a series of short-term enlistments and have always seen themselves as citizens trained to fight to protect their country." And the text contains numerous throwaway generalizations: "Today, no patriotic gathering would be complete without an appearance by someone dressed as Uncle Sam." The high point of the book is Manson's (Black Swan/ White Crow) art. Painted woodcuts, these textured, predominantly earth-tone pictures successfully evoke various eras and are more likely than the text to stir feelings of patriotism in young readers. Ages 7-up. (Jan.) Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. From School Library Journal Grade 1-3-The Wests present a wide assortment of symbols that range from expected favorites such as the American flag, the Liberty Bell, and the Statue of Liberty to less familiar emblems, such as the log cabin, the peace pipe, the buffalo, and Smokey the Bear. Each entry is accompanied by a page-long description and a lovely woodcut painted in rich earth tones. While interesting and informative, the discussions are too abbreviated to use for reports. The Liberty Bell essay highlights the famous crack without naming any events that the bell commemorated. An article on the American buffalo mentions the buffalo nickel as a "true American coin," without saying that it is no longer minted. While there are several titles that cover individual symbols in greater depth, this inviting compendium provides an attractive introduction for young readers. Jackie Hechtkopf, University of Maryland, College Park Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Kirkus Reviews The Wests embark on an invigorating tour of the symbols that serve to express facets of the American identity: objects, animals, and both legendary and apocryphal characters. Backgrounds are provided for 15 symbols, such as the Liberty Bell, the log cabin, the bald eagle, Uncle Sam, the Mayflower, the peace pipe, the Minuteman, and Smokey the Bear. Accompanied by Manson's handsome woodcuts, the Wests' overviews present fascinating tidbits: how ``Yankee Doodle'' started out as an insulting tune meant to demean New Englanders, but was appropriated and subverted by the colonialists to become a piece of national music