Rating: 
Summary: America: A Patriotic Primer
Review: A beautifully illustrated book that that will delight children, parents and grandparents. The cover shows joyous children raising the flag in an Iwo Jima-like illustration. The book includes 5 pages of brief notes including Americans ranging from John Adams, Jane Addams, Roberto Clemente, Frederick Douglass, Chief Joseph, Helen Keller, Jonas Salk to Babe Didrickson Zaharias. The notes also include such details as the full text of the Oath of Allegiance. "D is for Declaration" is illustrated with sketches including John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. The border is John Adams words, "I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost to maintain this declaration and support and defend these states. Yet through all the gloom I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory." "T is for Tolerance" includes notes on Ramadan, Easter, Rosh Hashannah, Trung Thu (Vietnamese), Chinese New Year, Diwali (Hindu) and Mormon Pioneer Day plus others.
Some may recall that Lynne Cheney shot down a proposed set of history standards a few years back. This book offers an outline of a reasonable history standard.
Rating: 
Summary: Look closely and critically at messages in this book!
Review: A theme of this book is "we the people" but for the most part, present day Native Americans are missing from this book, and it is interesting to note which past Native leaders Cheney chose to include. To start with, look at the parade of children shown on the title page. There's a kid shown in Native American clothing, but he isn't Native American himself. Other kids are white, African American, or Asian American. Cheney chooses Squanto, Pocahontas and Sacajawea as historic figures to include. Some argue that white America celebrates only those Native people who helped them. To her credit, Cheney includes Sitting Bull and Chief Joseph, and Ben Nighthorse Campbell. On the map of the US, the only references to Native Americans are historic landmarks that confine them to the historical past. It seems a fundamental message here is that Americans can emulate attributes of Native Americans (bravery, courage, perseverence), but that today, Native Americans do not exist in Cheney's America.
Rating:
Summary: America: Words of Inspiration
Review: As an 11 year-old, I like to read chapter books rather than picture books and
magical thrillers instead of history primers. When "America: A Patriotic Primer" was
brought to me by my mother, it did not look like the kind of book I normally enjoy. Upon
her insistence, I reluctantly started to read it. By the second page of the introduction, I
was hooked. The introduction explains in strong words why Mrs. Cheney wrote this
book, why we should honor and be proud of those who helped our country -- George
Washington, James Madison, Henry Clay, Fredrick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, and Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr.-- and how important it is to teach children the amazing roots of
this young country. The illustrations seem to bring the words alive, giving them all the
more importance. The quotations by famous Americans, though, are my favorite part - I
never knew it was Thomas Jefferson who said, "I cannot live without books" or that
Ronald Reagan gave us "I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn
ahead." It's like the thrill of reading Shakespeare and coming across lines that are so much
a part of our language, like "To be or not to be," and suddenly being awakened to their
real origin. From "A is for America, the land that we love," to "Z....Strong and free, we will
continue to be an inspiration to the world," this book is full of interesting facts, beautiful
pictures, and inspirational words that, hopefully, this country will remember forever.
Rating:
Summary: Wish my kids were small again!
Review: As I read America, A Patriotic Primer, I found myself wishing I could have a "do over" on instilling an interest in American history in my own children. I see that the book is written so that it can be read to a 4 year old or a 10 year old. There is as little or as much information as the age requires. I see that this book would evoke curiosity in children. I own a copy and will keep it handy for as yet unborn grandchildren. I think it is a fitting Grandmother's shelf volume to be read when they arrive. Ms. Glasser's illustrations are wonderfully interesting and beautifully showcased. I love that Mrs. Cheney used the alphabet to instill important concepts, institutions, and figures in our country's history. I appreciate that she gave fair attention to women, minorities, leaders, soldiers, patriots, founders, artists........when you start really reading the 'fine print' the list is quite impressive. The beauty of the book is that it can be read over and over with a little more 'noticed' and learned each time. I think this book should be available to every child in America. It is a book that will instill deeper understanding and ownership of our American heritage.
Rating:
Summary: THE ABC'S OF AMERICA
Review: I buy many children's books for my young niece and nephew so I am always looking for ones that are educational as well as enjoyable. AMERICA: A PATRIOTIC PRIMER is a colorful, well-written picture book that offers young readers an alphabetical introduction to historical highlights and prominent people in the American saga. This is a unique book because it also allows parents to share with their kids fun facts and patriotic images which will open the door to family discussion about what makes America great. I can't wait to send this book to my young relatives.
Rating:
Summary: She can do better
Review: I have to agree with an earlier poster - the irony of this book pales in comparison to the heaving bosoms of Sisters:
"She had gone with the young men, there had been much laughter, a few playful kisses--and then one of them backed her into a corner. He kissed her roughly and pressed against her, hard and insistent."
Rating:
Summary: Propaganda?
Review: I have to say that the book was great. What exactly some individual's expectations are of a children's book ecscapes me. Racism? Low-cost heathcare? Honestly! The only reason this book may be perceived as propaganda is by virtue that it is perpinduclar to others line of thinking.
Rating:
Summary: Oops!
Review: I is for I love you 'cause I have to, America.
Give the kids real books, please. Leave the brainwashing for the older folks.
Rating:
Summary: A Story for the children.
Review: I think this book is an excellent way to share with our children and grandchildren our country. It is superbly worded and full of feeling. This is a wonderful gift or book to read with children. This would make a great gift to a school library.
Rating:
Summary: this is just ridiculous
Review: I would not recommend this book as a usual "Alphabet Book" because a lot of the words are pretty abstract for a child trying to learn the alphabet. The idea of an alphabet book is to connect a letter to something concrete the child can relate to, like their own name or their dog, not "Suffragettes!" The book is confusing as a history for children who are beginning to read because it is in alphabetical rather than chronological order. There is no narrative here, no "story" in the history. Much of the history that this book attempts to whitewash over is not, in my opinion, really appropriate for serious discussion until children have begun to develop concepts of society outside of their family, neighborhood, and immediate town in the present day. I mean, my daughter is four years old. I can tell her the REAL story of the first Thanksgiving, but, it's kind of like, well, maybe she should first probably learn where North America IS, or that we live in a place called North America before we go into Metacom's Rebellion. This is not to say that it is then okay for Cheney to pretend like this history isn't real, that it isn't really impacting our lives today. Her presentation of "the facts" is appalling. Over and over again, we hear about how great America is. No mention of course of that great Vietnam war, what a great idea that was. No "H is for Hiroshima" page. How about "I is for Imperialism." Or "Internment Camps." It is really quite sick, quite pathological, to use the imagery of Iwo Jima on the front cover to hide the atrocities of war and present it instead as FUN! It wasn't any fun for anybody at Iwo Jima, and I have no intention of lying to my children about the realities of war. If you have a net worth of less than $10 million and you don't own stock in Halliburton, you are not doing your children any favors by aiding the capitalist class in this kind of blind indoctrination.
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