Review by Booklist Review
Ages 4-7. Continuing her series of holiday picture books, Watson portrays the same family seen in Thanksgiving at Our House [BKL S 1 91], this time celebrating the Fourth of July in their New England village. The little rounded figures enjoy an enviable range of hometown festivities in these line-and-watercolor illustrations. The scenes of preparations, a parade, games, swimming, and a picnic are sunny with bright pastel shades, dimmed only by dusk, when pink, yellow, and blue fireworks light up the evening sky. In the text, Watson interplays a voice-over of what's happening ("Mom serves fried chicken and potato salad") with rhymes--from nursery rhymes to playground rhymes to political rhymes. While this is an interesting juxtaposition, it may make for some confusion when reading aloud. Still, young children will find this an appealing slice of American life. ~--Carolyn Phelan
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-- A small town celebrates America's birthday . and the family featured in Thanksgiving at Our House (1991) and A Valentine for You (1991, both Clarion) joins in the fun. Everything is red, white, and blue in a subdued, pastel sort of way. Snippets of patriotic songs, childhood rhymes , and chants are boxed and set off from the illustrations. Fried chicken, potato salad, and fireworks are all part of the pleasant, rural festivities. A perfectly nice rendering of the external aspects of our nation's holiday, but urban children and recent immigrants may need some explanations of some of the colloquialisms. --Anna Biagioni Hart, Martha Washington Library, Alexandria, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
On the Fourth of July, a family shares traditional, small-town holiday activities: a parade, games, a picnic, and fireworks. While the text is in large print against a white background, the real fun is found in the American rhymes and songs written within the lively watercolors. From HORN BOOK 1992, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In the manner of Watson's other engaging holiday books (A Valentine for You, 1991), a simple narrative of a small-town family's Fourth of July celebration (``Everything is red, white, and blue, even breakfast''), interspersed with lively traditional verse (``Strawberry, blueberry, cream of tartum,/ Tell me the initials of your sweetheartum''). A parade with everyone participating; speeches (``Republican rats, take off your hats, and make way for the Democrats!...Fried rats and pickled cats are good enough for Democrats!''); picnics, games, swimming (``Adam and Eve and Pinchme'' gets the perfect comeback--``and who?''), and fireworks--all add up to a perfect birthday party, while Watson's diminutive characters cavort charmingly across her skillfully designed pages. A pleasure. (Picture book. 4-8)
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
