The Children's Book of America

Rating:
Summary: It makes you proud to be an American!
Review: Bennett's most recent work is a wonderful treasury of American folktales and the origin of many of our most treasured Patriotic songs. I am a third grade teacher in Orange County, California and I can say,without a doubt, each and every one of my students thoroughly enjoyed every entry in the book. The illustrations are breathtaking and the stories of Americana through the ages capture the child in each of us. A truly wonderful addition to any teacher or parent's library, as well as excellent enrichment to any Social Studies curriculum.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful portrait of America's principles
Review: Bill Bennett again has created a compilation of intrigueing stories that will stimulate young minds and provide a foundation for children to begin to appreciate what it means to be an American. Parents who have ultra-liberal views that America is basically a sexist, racist, homophobic, corrupt, sinister empire should pick another selection. Parents who believe that America is a wonderful place that is the beacon for liberty, freedom and justice, who may have made some mistakes along the way would be well served to provide this valuable educational tool to their children.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful portrait of America's principles
Review: Bill Bennett again has created a compilation of intrigueing stories that will stimulate young minds and provide a foundation for children to begin to appreciate what it means to be an American. Parents who have ultra-liberal views that America is basically a sexist, racist, homophobic, corrupt, sinister empire should pick another selection. Parents who believe that America is a wonderful place that is the beacon for liberty, freedom and justice, who may have made some mistakes along the way would be well served to provide this valuable educational tool to their children.

Rating:
Summary: Great Way to Introduce Young Readers To America
Review: I really liked this book, and so did my children.

Bennett has taken familiar vingettes (Pilgrims, Paul Bunyon, Johnny Apple Seed, Martin Luther King, Jr., moon walk, etc.) and presented them in a short form that is perfect for four to seven year olds and above.

Each story teaches lessons based on core values and can lead to good discussions with children in trying to explain the underlying values. The tales are also a wonderful introduction to the story of our country through our history and myths. They cover the range of the American Experience and are exactly the kind of tales that can serve as a launching pad to introduce youngsters to a wider exploration of our national heritage.

The stories themselves are well written and captivating (though my four year old's attention wandered with some -- it is for older than pre-school on the whole). The illustrations are first rate and help younger children understand the written story.

The format is perfect for bedtime stories -- good length for a one story a night reading. It is also one you'll want to return to again.

Rating:
Summary: My work as illustrator for the Children's Book of America
Review: I'm Michael Hague and I am glad to have this opportunity to comment on my work as the illustrator of the three-book series edited by William Bennett. It was fun revisiting familiar tales and discovering new ones. The first book of this series is CHILDREN'S BOOK OF VIRTUES. Through my illustrations I wanted to enrich each reader's discovery of the qualities that are the basis of good character. In the second book, THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF HEROES, I wanted to introduce the readers to people who have applied these traits. And, in the third book of the series, THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF AMERICA, I wanted to honor the tales of these people of character who have shaped our history, our folklore, and our American spirit.I have tried to be very accurate in my illustrations of the stories that are about real people and events:I researched every person and scene so that they would be an authentic portrayal of these remarkable stories. In the tales of fiction,I searched my imagination for the images. It is my hope that my artwork complements these books and makes the stories come alive for every reader.

Rating:
Summary: America's legacy is good and grand and hopeful
Review: Michael Hague and I wanted this book to celebrate the American spirit. So often these days, children grow up hearing criticisms of the Amerian past and its heroes. They hear a lot about the blemishes on our saga. Well, they need to hear the good, the hopeful side of our nation's story, too -- especially when they are young. If we don't tell our children that, we raise them to be cynical about their own country. And we ignore the truth. Because the truth is that most of the American legacy is good and grand and hopeful. That is what this book is about.

Rating:
Summary: Bennett is part of what is wrong with America
Review: This book comes nowhere close to living up to the claim that "no volume will provide more compelling and inspiring answers to our children's questions" about what it means to be an American. It is important to remember that while we might be tempted to buy into the kind of simplistic view Bennett presents in The Children's Book of America, what America was and is and who the people are who have lived and are living here are far more complex than he seems capable of conceiving. His stereotypic images might resonate with some people who long for simplicity and the "good ol' days" that never really were, but telling a story the way one wants to does not make it so, ignoring things one doesn't understand doesn't make them go away, and buying into ignorance is never a good idea. His sanitized vision of America should offend our sensibilities in light of the reality many of us live, and represents the co-opting of our children's education and future for the perpetuation of a grossly unequal and unjust status quo. Rather than serving up the pablum offered to our children by Bennett, we need to help them understand and critique the society in which they live, and prepare them for the kind of participatory democracy that can bring about the kind of social justice and egalitarian society that will permit each of us to live a bit of the American dream. We need to develop more critical and democratic thought than that evidenced by a BarnesandNoble.com customer-reviewer whose attempt at critique concludes,
"The unintentional irony of juxtaposing Martin Luther King's 'dream' speech with blatantly racist folksongs is typical of Bennett's charmingly naive and confused view of morality and virtue. The inclusion of songs and stories promoting racial harmony appears to have been driven by a simple-minded sense of political correctness. But Bennett nonetheless succeeds in providing the children of America with a much needed lesson in patriotism and morality. God knows that the public has completely lost their sense of morality. Thank you, Mr. Bennett, for teaching my children what is good and virtuous." This is part of what is wrong with America.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Wonderful!!
Review: This is a wonderful book for children to become familiar with the people and events that helped shape this great nation. The stories are inspirational and guided by a moral purpose. Our children need to know what a special and great country they live in!

Rating:
Summary: Bennett Teaches Our Children Well
Review: William Bennett has compiled a wonderful collection of American folktales, songs and speeches to make all American children feel good about themselves and their country. The unintentional irony of juxtaposing Martin Luther King's "dream" speech with blatantly racist folksongs is typical of Bennett's charmingly naive and confused view of morality and virtue. The inclusion of songs and stories promoting racial harmony appears to have been driven by a simple-minded sense of political correctness.

But Bennett nonetheless succeeds in providing the children of America with a much needed lesson in patriotism and morality. God knows that the public has completely lost their sense of morality.

Thank you, Mr. Bennett, for teaching my children what is good and virtuous.