This book is about Evan. He is in the fourth grade this year and guess what? His sister, Jessie is too! You see, she always had been smarter than him. And she skipped a grade, because of that! He screamed and yelled, and I quote, “I hate you!”! He had always wanted an I-pod, but never had the money to get one. So he, as he and his sister always did when he wasn’t mad at her, made a lemonade stand! But the bad thing is, that so did his sister! Later that day they challenged each other to a…
LEMONADE WAR!
This is when two or more people make two or more lemonade stands to make money with. Whoever makes a hundred dollars by the end of summer (that was five days from then), wins and takes all the money that the other made, too! If neither of them makes $100.00, then who ever has the most, wins! But remember, it has to be made from lemonade stands! Jessie’s motivation is she wants to get her old big brother back; Evan’s motivation… hmm… he just wants to prove that he is smarter than his sister!
This book is not only a good reading book, but it also gives some good ideas for your own lemonade stand. On the last page, they have “Ten Tips For Turning Lemons Into Loot!”, that is, a bunch of business ideas for making a successful stand! I really liked this book and I hope that you do to! So get it at a library and read it!
Jessie and Evan Treski are brother and sister. Evan is good at making friends, talking to people, and understanding feelings. Jessie is good at math and planning and organizing. When their normally close and supportive sibling relationship turns sour, they take their dispute and make . . . lemonade.
Math and marketing combine in The Lemonade Warto produce a story that teaches many lessons. But it’s never didactic. The book is successful on so many levels. It can be a story about a brother and sister who learn that they need each other. Or it can be a story about a brother and a sister who learn that they can do things for which they’ve always depended on each other for help. Or it can be a story about how to succeed in business, and about what mistakes to avoid. Or it can be a story about misunderstanding and envy and unkindness and love and reconciliation.
This book presents a great picture of a brother and sister working through jealousy and pride issues in their relationship. It’s also a good book to recommend to math teachers who want to incorporate literature across the curriculum. Or to math nerds who need to realize that there are other important skills that they might need to hone. Or to kids who are not so good at math who need to know that their talents are valuable, too. Or to kids or adults who are interested in kids going into business for themselves. I can think of lots of people who might like this book.
“It is with the reading of books the same as with looking at pictures; one must, without doubt, without hesitations, with assurance, admire what is beautiful.” ~~Vincent Van Gogh
Welcome to the Saturday Review of Books at Semicolon. Here’s how it usually works. Find a book review on your blog posted sometime during the previous week. The review doesn’t have to be a formal sort of thing. You can link to your thoughts on a particular book, a few ideas inspired by reading the book, your evaluation, quotations, whatever.
Then on Friday night/Saturday, you post a link here at Semicolon in Mr. Linky to the specific post where you’ve written your book review. Don’t link to your main blog page because this kind of link makes it hard to find the book review, especially when people drop in later after you’ve added new content to your blog. In parentheses after your name, add the title of the book you’re reviewing. This addition will help people to find the reviews they’re most interested in reading.
After linking to your own reviews, you can spend as long as you want reading the reviews of other bloggers for the week and adding to your wishlist of books to read.
Some homeschool moms asked me to make a set of summer reading lists for different age groups to help them choose books for a summer reading club. These are the books from my library that I chose to recommend. Maybe you can find a few titles that will be a welcome addition to your summer reading.
Thimbleberry Stories by Cynthia Rylant. Nigel Chipmunk lives on Thimbleberry Lane, and he visits his friends Dipper the hummingbird, Little Owl, Copper the butterfly, and Mudpuppy the salamander. The friends enjoy the days of summer with tea parties and gardening and picnics as they learn to know and help one another.
Mystery in the Pirate Oak by Helen Fuller Orton. Similar in style and reading level to The Boxcar Children series, the mysteries by Helen Fuller Orton are more intriguing and more varied in characters and plot than The Boxcar Children mysteries. Mystery in the Pirate Oak tells the story of Chad and Ellie Turner and their search for a missing silver box hidden long ago in the old oak tree in the nearby meadow. Grandmother Hale is hopeful that if the box could be found it might have something in it that would provide enough cash to fix her leaking roof and have the old house painted. Can Chad and Ellie find the sixty year old silver box before someone else does and before summer vacation is over?
Julian’s Glorious Summer by Ann Cameron. When Julian’s best friend Gloria rides up on her bicycle, Julian is not happy. He doesn’t know how to ride a bike, and he’s afraid to try. To get out of the situation, Julian claims that his father will be forcing him to work day and night for the entire summer. Unfortunately for Julian, his father hears about Julian’s story and decides to make it true. Julian will have work from dawn to dusk. How can such a mess of a summer become “glorious”? Read it and find out. There are several more books in this series about Julian and his family if this one hits the spot.
McBroom’s Wonderful One-Acre Farm by Sid Fleischman. Josh McBroom, teller of tall tales, has been deceived, cheated and bamboozled; his eighty acres of farmland turns out to be eighty acres stacked on top of one another—one acre square. But maybe there’s a good side. That one acre of topsoil is some of the best farmland anywhere, with soil so rich that seeds immediately spring up into plants and even nickels grow into quarters. Can McBroom and his wife Melissa and their family of eleven red-headed, freckle-faced youngsters make a fortune from his one-acre farm? This book includes three McBroom stories: McBroom Tells the Truth, McBroom and the Big Wind, and McBroom’s Ear. You can get these funny tall tales in individual volumes or all together in this one book. Either way, these tall tales are sure to tickle your funny bone.
In Aunt Lucy’s Kitchen by Cynthia Rylant. The Cobble Street Cousins, Lily, Rosie, and Tess, are staying with their Aunt Lucy for the summer. Their summer plans include a cookie company, which leads to their meeting all the neighbors and finding ways to brighten up the neighborhood. This series tells sweet stories about creative, community-minded girls doing fun and imaginative things together. It’s on the easier end of the scale as far as reading level is concerned, for those second and third graders who are still working on basic reading skills.
Penny Goes to Camp by Carolyn Haywood. Carolyn Haywood is an almost forgotten author who still has much to say to children in our day, even though her books were published in the 1940’s and 1950’s. In this one, nine year old adopted brothers Penny and Peter go to summer camp for the entire summer while their parents are away on an extended business trip. THe boys meet an Indian chief, go on camping trips in the woods, and participate in a pretend-circus and a boat crew race. Penny’s and Peter’s adventures are sure to spark lots of ideas for summer fun, even for those who don’t have the advantage of a summer camp like theirs.
Betsy’s Busy Summer by Carolyn Haywood. Another Carolyn Haywood gem in which Betsy and her neighborhood friends fill the hot summer days with fun and adventure. From watermelon party to lemonade stand to the next-door neighbor’s new swimming pool, these children find fun and friendship through the long, hot days of summer.
Some children just prefer nonfiction books about real people or animals or science topics or math or art. If so, don’t make them read ALL fiction just because that’s what is usually on the summer reading lists. Try some of the following titles to get nonfiction fans reading the stories that will make them smile.
Israel Putman: Fearless Boy by Augusta Stevenson. Benjamin Franklin: Young Printer by Augusta Stevenson. Tom Jefferson: Boy in Colonial Days by Helen Monsell. Anthony Wayne: Daring Boy by Augusta Stevenson. Dan Morgan: Wilderness Boy by Bernice Bryant. Molly Pitcher: Young Patriot by Augusta Stevenson. Betsy Ross: Designer of Our Flag by Ann Weil.
These patriotic biographies are all titles from the series Childhood of Famous Americans, and they’re perfect for summer reading, especially the particular titles listed here since the Fourth of July holiday turns minds toward American independence and the Revolutionary War just in the middle of the summer. As he series title indicates, these somewhat fictionalized biographies emphasize the childhood of these famous Americans (and many more), but there is some reference to their adult accomplishments. And the reading level is just right for confident second and third grade readers. I can imagine a summer project for avid readers to read as many of the books in this series as they can find, but they won’t run out since there are over two hundred titles in the series.
All Upon a Stone by Jean Craighead George. All Upon a Sidewalk by Jean Craighead George.
These two short books pack a lot of story and a lot of information into a small package. All Upon a Stone chronicles the adventures of a tiny mole cricket as he crawls to the top of a big stone in the woods beside a stream. All Upon a Sidewalk is about a yellow, Lasius flavus, who has a mission to perform for the queen ant. Both books give naturalists a new viewpoint as they look at the world from the perspective of a tiny insect.
2. “Our goal was never to live; our goal is to love. It is the goal of all truly noble men and women. Give all that can be given. Give even your life itself.” ~Empire of Bones by N.D. Wilson.
3. “Cowards live for the sake of living, but for heroes, life is a weapon, a thing to be spent, a gift to be given to the weak and the lost and the weary, even to the foolish and the cowardly.” ~Empire of Bones by N.D. Wilson.
8. “In this game of life
your family is the court
and the ball is your heart.
No matter how good you are,
no matter how down you get,
always leave
your heart
on the court.” ~The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
12. “A story helps folks face the world, even when it frightens ’em. And a lie does the opposite. It helps you hide.” ~The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier.
20. “If there’s one thing more stressful than being attacked by ravenous ghost-rats, it’s finding that you’re going to a fancy party and you haven’t got a thing to wear.” ~Lockwood & Co.: The Whispering Skull.
21. “Angry and grumpy.
Jealous and grumpy.
Selfish and grumpy.
Worried and grumpy.
Sad and grumpy.
Grumpy is like ketchup—it goes with a lot of things.”
~Wisher Dreamer Liar by Charise Mericle Harper.
23. “[T]ragedy is not glamorous. . . . Tragedy is ugly and tangled, stupid and confusing.” ~We Were Liars by E. Lockhart.
24. “Be a little kinder than you have to.” ~We Were Liars by E. Lockhart.
25. “In searching for the truth, be ready for the unexpected. Change alone is unchanging.” ~Heraklietos of Ephesos in The Ninja Librarians: Accidental Keyhand by Jen Swann Downey.
26. “Do not, however tempting it might be, poke sticks at sleeping grifters.” Cabinet of Curiosities, Emma Trevayne.
27. “Bring your brain to the party.” ~The Twistrose Key by Tone Almhjell.
30. “Together, we’re strong. Strong enough to fight, and strong enough to win.” ~Horizon by Jenn Reese.
31. “Iron resolve. Ferocious courage. And a healthy dose of insanity. That’s what makes a superhero. Not some amazing power.†~Almost Super by Marion Jensen.
36. “If you’re going to do it, don’t do it stupid.” ~Loot by Jude Watson.
37. “If you think nothing can go wrong, you’d better think again.” ~Loot by Jude Watson.
38. “Never cheat, but be able to spot a cheater.” ~Loot by Jude Watson.
39. “Life isn’t fair. It never has been and it never will be. You can sit back and moan about its unfairness while the witches roll across the countryside, or you can pick yourself up and get on with it.” ~Pennyroyal Academy by M.A. Larson.
48. “Don’t be dazzled. Pay attention. Use your knowledge of the enemy.” ~Nuts to You by Lynne Rae Perkins.
49. “Sometimes the thing to do is invite your adversary for cake and lemonade, and see if they can become your friend.” ~Nuts to You by Lynne Rae Perkins.
50. “But when you are Team Squirrel, and the other team is Team Hawk, this is not a good idea. Because as far as the hawk is concerned, you are the cake. And also the lemonade.” ~Nuts to You by Lynne Rae Perkins. (See also #6.)
3. Some picture books for July 4th:
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. Paul Revere’s Ride.Illustrated by Ted Rand. Dutton, 1990.
Dalgliesh, Alice.The 4th of July Story. Alladin, 1995. (reprint edition)
Spier, Peter. The Star-Spangled Banner. Dragonfly Books, 1992.
Bates, Katharine Lee. America the Beautiful. Illustrated by Neil Waldman. Atheneum, 1993.
Devlin, Wende. Cranberry Summer.
St. George, Judith. The Journey of the One and Only Declaration of Independence.
Osornio, Catherine. The Declaration of Independence from A to Z. More picture books for Independence Day.
5. Stephen Foster was born on July 4, 1826. The PBS series American Experience has an episode on the life of Stephen Foster, author of songs such as Beautiful Dreamer and Oh! Susanna.
6. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on the same day, July 4, 1826, fifty years after adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
Adams’ last words were: “Thomas Jefferson still survives.”
Jefferson’s last words: “Is it the fourth?”
I highly recommend both David McCullough’s biography of John Adams and the PBS minseries based on McCullough’s book.
7. Calvin Coolidge was born on July 4, 1872. He is supposed to have said, “If you don’t say anything, you won’t be called on to repeat it,” and “I have never been hurt by anything I didn’t say.”
Also, “we do not need more intellectual power, we need more spiritual power. We do not need more of the things that are seen, we need more of the things that are unseen.”
Amen to that. More on Calvin Coolidge and the Fourth of July from A Quiet Simple Life.
8. You could make your own fireworks for the Fourth of July. Engineer Husband really used to do this when he was a young adolescent, and I can’t believe his parents let him. He tried to make nitroglycerine once, but he got scared and made his father take it outside and dispose of it! Maybe you should just read about how fireworks are made and then imagine making your own.
9. On July 4, 1970 Casey Kasem hosted “American Top 40” on radio for the first time. I cannot tell a lie; in high school I spent every Sunday afternoon listening to Casey Kasem count down the Top 40 hits of the week. Why not make up your own Top 40 All-American Hits List and play it on the fourth for your family?
14. Miracle at Philadelphia by Catherine Drinker Bowen. Subtitled “The Story of the Constitutional Convention May to September 1787,†this book is the one that gave me the story of the US constitution. It’s suitable for older readers, at least middle school age, but it’s historical writing at its best. I loved reading about Luther Martin of Maryland, whom Henry Adams described as “the notorious reprobate genius.†Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts who wasâ€always satisfied to shoot an arrow without caring about the wound he caused.†(Both Gerry and Martin refused to sign the final version of the Constitution.) Of course, there were Madison, known as the Father of the Constitution, George Washington, who presided over the convention in which all present knew that they were creating a presidency for him to fill, and Ben Franklin, the old man and elder statesman who had to be carried to the convention in a sedan chair. Ms. Bowen’s book brings all these characters and more to life and gives the details of the deliberations of the constitutional convention in readable and interesting format.
15. Watch a movie. Getttysburg is a tragedy within the tragedy that was the Civil War, but it’s also patriotic and inspiring. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington has Jimmy Stewart demonstrating what’s wrong and what’s right about American government and politics.
I like 1776, the musical version of the making of the Declaration Of Independence, but it does have some mildly risque moments. Other patriotic movies.And a few more.
24. Listen to some marches by John Philip Sousa, performed by the U.S. Marine Band. I played several of these, not very well, on my flute when I was in Homer Anderson’s Bobcat Band.
35. Start an all-American read aloud, such as: Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes. Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott. Guns for General Washington by Seymour Reit. Tolliver’s Secret by Esther Woods Brady.
39. We always attend the Fourth of July parade in Friendswood, Texas, except not this year since some of us will be traveling. Anyway, find a parade and take the kids or grandkids or neighbor kids. A Fourth of July parade is a celebration of American patriotism in a capsule.
43. Check out A Book of Americans by Rosemary and Stephen Vincent Benet. It’s a great book of poems about various famous Americans, and I think lots of kids would enjoy hearing it read aloud, maybe a poem a day in July.
45. Spend some time praying for our nation’s leaders: President Barack Obama, your senators, your representatives, the governor of your state, your state representatives, and others.
46. Wear red, white, and blue. Or put red and blue streaks in your hair. When I was in junior high, flag pins and ponchos were in style. I had a flag pin and a red, white, and blue poncho, both of which I wore together. I was stylin’!
48. Any of the following nonfiction books for children would make a good Fourth of July history lesson: The Story of the Boston Tea Party by R. Conrad Stein The Story of Lexington and Concord by R. Conrad Stein The Signers: The 56 Stories Behind the Declaration of Independence by Dennis Brindell Fradin The Story of the Declaration of Independence by Norman Richards The American Revolution (Landmark Books) by Bruce Jr Bliven The War for Independence: The Story of the American Revolution by Albert Marrin The Story of Valley Forge by R. Conrad Stein Traitor: The Case of Benedict Arnold by Jean Fritz The Story of the Battle of Yorktown by Anderson Miracle at Philadelphia by Catherine Drinker Bowen. The Story of the Constitution by Marilyn Prolman In Defense of Liberty: The Story of America’s Bill of Rights by Russell Freedman An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy George Washington and the Founding of a Nation by Albert Marrin The Story of Old Glory by Mayer
49. Host a block party or potluck dinner.
50. Take a picnic to the park.
51. Read 1776 by David McCullough or the two companion novels, Chains and Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson. All three would make great Fourth of July reads. Semicolon thoughts here.
55. Give thanks to the Lord of all nations for the United States of America, that He has made this country, sustained it, and blessed it. Pray that we will be a nation of people that honor Him.
When I think back on the summers of my childhood and youth, I remember:
kool-aid and push pops.
swimming (or at least playing in the water) at the Municipal Pool.
not swimming because I wasn’t allowed until the scab from my smallpox vaccination fell off.
sucking the juice from the honeysuckle blossoms.
flies and mosquitos.
going to GA camp at Heart of Texas Baptist Encampment.
climbing on the rocks at Paisano Baptist Encampment.
a pallet on the floor of the car at the drive-in movie theater.
the swamp cooler that had to be kept moist in order to cool the living room.
green St. Augustine grass.
playing barefoot.
playing Barbies on the front porch.
watching re-runs on TV, Hawaii Five-O and The Mod Squad.
Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In.
Mark Spitz winning seven gold medals in swimming at the 1972 summer Olympics.
Love Will Keep Us Together by Captain and Tenielle.
Only Women Bleed by Alice Cooper (I hated that song all summer long in 1975).
fresh apricots from the trees in our backyard.
wasps, yellow-jackets that stung me on the bottom of a bare foot.
going to Astroworld on our Houston vacation.
100 degrees on top of Pike’s Peak (a very hot summer on our second ever family vacation in Colorado).
purple hot pants and granny dresses.
Star Wars and Grease and American Grafitti.
back-to-school shopping.
going to the library twice a week to get my limit, ten books at a time.
reading my books in the chinaberry tree next to our house.
chasing the ice-cream truck.
Vacation Bible School.
iced tea and lemonade. Actually, we drank sweet iced tea year round. Still do.
sweating profusely and then immersing myself in a cold pool or creek or even a bathtub. Cool, clear water.
playing with the water hose or in the sprinkler.
my lovely pink parasol.
calling for “doodle bugs.” “Doodle bug, doodle bug, fly away home. You house is on fire, and your children will burn.” Rather violent-sounding, now that I think about it.
catching horny toads.
sparklers on the Fourth of July.
playing house in the shade of our pecan trees.
instead of mud pies, making “salads” out of grass and leaves and berries and feeding those salads to my dolls.
riding with the car windows rolled down, before air conditioning in cars.
dusty, caliche roads that hadn’t been paved.
spending the night with my grandmother on Friday night and walking to the store all by myself.
walking barefoot on HOT pavement because I forgot to wear my shoes and jumping from shadow to shadow to keep my soles from burning.
teaching myself to ride my blue bicycle.
drinking Coke from a wet, frosty bottle that I could hold to my face to cool me off.
pouring water over my head to cool off.
learning to float on my stomach, on my back, but never really learning to swim, in spite of lessons and practice.
going to the air-conditioned movie theater to cool off and watch a movie.
sunburn, and peeling the skin from my sunburn.
my dad wearing a hat to keep his bald head from getting sunburned.
going fishing with my Aunt Audrey and Uncle Fred.
summer thunderstorms.
flip-flops.
getting up early or sleeping in late, both ways to enjoy those long, long days.
summer picnics.
trespassing to play down by the creek that ran near our house.
walking on the railroad tracks, looking for loose change that someone might have dropped.
It’s possible that I kept thinking of Pippi Longstocking when I was reading this book by Diana Wynne Jones, author of Howl’s Moving Castle and many other fantasy favorites, because Paul Zelinsky’s illustrations reminded me of Lauren Child’s pictures of of Pippi. Maybe it’s just the electric pigtails that both Pippi and Earwig share. It’s also possible that Earwig is a cross between Pippi and some random wizard. Someone left Earwig at St. Morwald’s Home for Children with this message pinned to her basket: “Got the other twelve witches all chasing me. I’ll be back for her when I’ve shook them off. It may take years. Her name is Earwig.”
Earwig likes her life at the orphanage, but when she is chosen to go live with Bella Yaga the cruel witch and a terrifying man with horns who doesn’t like being disturbed, Earwig makes herself at home and tries to work a deal: housecleaning help in return for witchcraft lessons. Bella Yaga doesn’t want to teach Earwig anything, though, so Earwig must decide how she’s going to cope with her new life and make it suit her in spite of the lack of cooperation from her foster “parents.”
Earwig and the Witch is an early chapter book, and as such it’s not really too scary or too complicated. The scary parts involve worms and some swirly-smoky demons. The plot has Earwig doing just what she wants to do in spite of those who might try to thwart her desires. The theme seems to be” “If life hands you witches and demons, make lemonade. Or cast spells.” This one is appropriate for beginning readers, unless you don’t care for the whole witches and spell-casting thing. It might have been meant to be the start of a series, but unfortunately, Ms. Jones died last year (2011).
3. Some picture books for July 4th:
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. Paul Revere’s Ride.Illustrated by Ted Rand. Dutton, 1990.
Dalgliesh, Alice.The 4th of July Story. Alladin, 1995. (reprint edition)
Spier, Peter. The Star-Spangled Banner. Dragonfly Books, 1992.
Bates, Katharine Lee. America the Beautiful. Illustrated by Neil Waldman. Atheneum, 1993.
Devlin, Wende. Cranberry Summer.
St. George, Judith. The Journey of the One and Only Declaration of Independence.
Osornio, Catherine. The Declaration of Independence from A to Z. More picture books for Independence Day.
5. Stephen Foster was born on July 4, 1826. The PBS series American Experience has an episode on the life of Stephen Foster, author of songs such as Beautiful Dreamer and Oh! Susanna.
6. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on the same day, July 4, 1826, fifty years after adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
Adams’ last words were: “Thomas Jefferson still survives.”
Jefferson’s last words: “Is it the fourth?”
I highly recommend both David McCullough’s biography of John Adams and the PBS minseries based on McCullough’s book.
7. Calvin Coolidge was born on July 4, 1872. He is supposed to have said, “If you don’t say anything, you won’t be called on to repeat it,” and “I have never been hurt by anything I didn’t say.”
Also, “we do not need more intellectual power, we need more spiritual power. We do not need more of the things that are seen, we need more of the things that are unseen.”
Amen to that. More on Calvin Coolidge and the Fourth of July from A Quiet Simple Life.
8. You could make your own fireworks for the Fourth of July. Engineer Husband really used to do this when he was a young adolescent, and I can’t believe his parents let him. He tried to make nitroglycerine once, but he got scared and made his father take it outside and dispose of it! Maybe you should just read about how fireworks are made and then imagine making your own.
9. On July 4, 1970 Casey Kasem hosted “American Top 40” on radio for the first time. I cannot tell a lie; in high school I spent every Sunday afternoon listening to Casey Kasem count down the Top 40 hits of the week. Why not make up your own Top 40 All-American Hits List and play it on the fourth for your family?
14. Miracle at Philadelphia by Catherine Drinker Bowen. Subtitled “The Story of the Constitutional Convention May to September 1787,†this book is the one that gave me the story of the US constitution. It’s suitable for older readers, at least middle school age, but it’s historical writing at its best. I loved reading about Luther Martin of Maryland, whom Henry Adams described as “the notorious reprobate genius.†Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts who wasâ€always satisfied to shoot an arrow without caring about the wound he caused.†(Both Gerry and Martin refused to sign the final version of the Constitution.) Of course, there were Madison, known as the Father of the Constitution, George Washington, who presided over the convention in which all present knew that they were creating a presidency for him to fill, and Ben Franklin, the old man and elder statesman who had to be carried to the convention in a sedan chair. Ms. Bowen’s book brings all these characters and more to life and gives the details of the deliberations of the constitutional convention in readable and interesting format.
15. Watch a movie. Getttysburg is a tragedy within the tragedy that was the Civil War, but it’s also patriotic and inspiring. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington has Jimmy Stewart demonstrating what’s wrong and what’s right about American government and politics.
I like 1776, the musical version of the making of the Declaration Of Independence, but it does have some mildly risque moments. Other patriotic movies.And a few more.
24. Listen to some marches by John Philip Sousa, performed by the U.S. Marine Band. I played several of these, not very well, on my flute when I was in Homer Anderson’s Bobcat Band.
35. Start an all-American read aloud, such as: Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes. Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott. Guns for General Washington by Seymour Reit. Tolliver’s Secret by Esther Woods Brady.
39. We always attend the Fourth of July parade in Friendswood, Texas, except not this year since some of us will be traveling. Anyway, find a parade and take the kids or grandkids or neighbor kids. A Fourth of July parade is a celebration of American patriotism in a capsule.
43. Check out A Book of Americans by Rosemary and Stephen Vincent Benet. It’s a great book of poems about various famous Americans, and I think lots of kids would enjoy hearing it read aloud, maybe a poem a day in July.
45. Spend some time praying for our nation’s leaders: President Barack Obama, your senators, your representatives, the governor of your state, your state representatives, and others.
46. Wear red, white, and blue. Or put red and blue streaks in your hair. When I was in junior high, flag pins and ponchos were in style. I had a flag pin and a red, white, and blue poncho, both of which I wore together. I was stylin’!
48. Any of the following nonfiction books for children would make a good Fourth of July history lesson: The Story of the Boston Tea Party by R. Conrad Stein The Story of Lexington and Concord by R. Conrad Stein The Signers: The 56 Stories Behind the Declaration of Independence by Dennis Brindell Fradin The Story of the Declaration of Independence by Norman Richards The American Revolution (Landmark Books) by Bruce Jr Bliven The War for Independence: The Story of the American Revolution by Albert Marrin The Story of Valley Forge by R. Conrad Stein Traitor: The Case of Benedict Arnold by Jean Fritz The Story of the Battle of Yorktown by Anderson Miracle at Philadelphia by Catherine Drinker Bowen. The Story of the Constitution by Marilyn Prolman In Defense of Liberty: The Story of America’s Bill of Rights by Russell Freedman An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy George Washington and the Founding of a Nation by Albert Marrin The Story of Old Glory by Mayer
49. Host a block party or potluck dinner.
50. Take a picnic to the park.
51. Read 1776 by David McCullough or the two companion novels, Chains and Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson. All three would make great Fourth of July reads. Semicolon thoughts here.
55. Give thanks to the Lord of all nations for the United States of America, that He has made this country, sustained it, and blessed it. Pray that we will be a nation of people that honor Him.
3. Some picture books for July 4th:
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. Paul Revere’s Ride.Illustrated by Ted Rand. Dutton, 1990.
Dalgliesh, Alice.The 4th of July Story. Alladin, 1995. (reprint edition)
Spier, Peter. The Star-Spangled Banner. Dragonfly Books, 1992.
Bates, Katharine Lee. America the Beautiful. Illustrated by Neil Waldman. Atheneum, 1993.
Devlin, Wende. Cranberry Summer.
St. George, Judith. The Journey of the One and Only Declaration of Independence.
Osornio, Catherine. The Declaration of Independence from A to Z. More picture books for Independence Day.
5. Stephen Foster was born on July 4, 1826. The PBS series American Experience has an episode on the life of Stephen Foster, author of songs such as Beautiful Dreamer and Oh! Susanna.
6. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on the same day, July 4, 1826, fifty years after adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
Adams’ last words were: “Thomas Jefferson still survives.”
Jefferson’s last words: “Is it the fourth?”
I highly recommend both David McCullough’s biography of John Adams and the PBS minseries based on McCullough’s book.
7. Calvin Coolidge was born on July 4, 1872. He is supposed to have said, “If you don’t say anything, you won’t be called on to repeat it,” and “I have never been hurt by anything I didn’t say.”
Also, “we do not need more intellectual power, we need more spiritual power. We do not need more of the things that are seen, we need more of the things that are unseen.”
Amen to that. More on Calvin Coolidge and the Fourth of July from A Gracious Home.
8. You could make your own fireworks for the Fourth of July. Engineer Husband really used to do this when he was a young adolescent, and I can’t believe his parents let him. He tried to make nitroglycerine once, but he got scared and made his father take it outside and dispose of it! Maybe you should just read about how fireworks are made and then imagine making your own.
9. On July 4, 1970 Casey Kasem hosted “American Top 40” on radio for the first time. I cannot tell a lie; in high school I spent every Sunday afternoon listening to Casey Kasem count down the Top 40 hits of the week. Why not make up your own TOp 40 All-American Hits List and play it on the fourth for your family?
14. Miracle at Philadelphia by Catherine Drinker Bowen. Subtitled “The Story of the Constitutional Convention May to September 1787,†this book is the one that gave me the story of the US constitution. It’s suitable for older readers, at least middle school age, but it’s historical writing at its best. I loved reading about Luther Martin of Maryland, whom Henry Adams described as “the notorious reprobate genius.†Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts who wasâ€always satisfied to shoot an arrow without caring about the wound he caused.†(Both Gerry and Martin refused to sign the final version of the Constitution.) Of course, there were Madison, known as the Father of the Constitution, George Washington, who presided over the convention in which all present knew that they were creating a presidency for him to fill, and Ben Franklin, the old man and elder statesman who had to be carried to the convention in a sedan chair. Ms. Bowen’s book brings all these characters and more to life and gives the details of the deliberations of the constitutional convention in readable and interesting format.
15. Watch a movie. Getttysburg is a tragedy within the tragedy that was the Civil War, but it’s also patriotic and inspiring. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington has Jimmy Stewart demonstrating what’s wrong and what’s right about American government and politics.
I like 1776, the musical version of the making of the Declaration Of Independence. Other patriotic movies.And a few more.
35. Start an all-American read aloud, such as: Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes. Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott. Guns for General Washington by Seymour Reit. Tolliver’s Secret by Esther Woods Brady.
39. We always attend the Fourth of July parade in Friendswood, Texas, except this year when we’ll be traveling. Anyway, find a parade and take the kids or grandkids or neighbor kids. A Fourth of July parade is a celebration of American patriotism in a capsule.
43. Check out A Book of Americans by Rosemary and Stephen Vincent Benet. It’s a great book of poems about various famous Americans, and I think lots of kids would enjoy hearing it read aloud, maybe a poem a day in July.
45. Spend some time praying for our nation’s leaders: President Barack Obama, your senators, your representatives, the governor of your state, your state representatives, and others.
46. Wear red, white, and blue. Or put red and blue streaks in your hair. When I was in junior high, flag pins and ponchos were in style. I had a flag pin and a red, white, and blue poncho, both of which I wore together. I was stylin’!
48. Any of the following nonfiction book for children would make a good Fourth of July history lesson: The Story of the Boston Tea Party by R. Conrad Stein The Story of Lexington and Concord by R. Conrad Stein The Signers: The 56 Stories Behind the Declaration of Independence by Dennis Brindell Fradin The Story of the Declaration of Independence by Norman Richards The American Revolution (Landmark Books) by Bruce Jr Bliven The War for Independence: The Story of the American Revolution by Albert Marrin The Story of Valley Forge by R. Conrad Stein Traitor: The Case of Benedict Arnold by Jean Fritz The Story of the Battle of Yorktown by Anderson Miracle at Philadelphia by Catherine Drinker Bowen. The Story of the Constitution by Marilyn Prolman In Defense of Liberty: The Story of America’s Bill of Rights by Russell Freedman An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy George Washington and the Founding of a Nation by Albert Marrin The Story of Old Glory by Mayer
49. Host a block party or potluck dinner.
50. Take a picnic to the park.
51. Read 1776 by David McCullough. I’ve been intending to read this historical tome for several years. Maybe this year is the year.
52. Go to church. SInce Independence Day falls on a Sunday this year, it’s a good day to go to church and thank the God who made and preserves this nation and all nations and to ask His continued mercy and grace upon all of us. God bless America.
This book is about Evan. He is in the fourth grade this year and guess what? His sister, Jessie is too! You see, she always had been smarter than him. And she skipped a grade, because of that! He screamed and yelled, and I quote, “I hate you!”! He had always wanted an I-pod, but never had the money to get one. So he, as he and his sister always did when he wasn’t mad at her, made a lemonade stand! But the bad thing is, that so did his sister! Later that day they challenged each other to a… 
