Reviewed by SUSAN E. RICHARDSON
Introduce your children to their American heritage this Fourth of July with God Bless America, a board book published by Zonderkidz. Henry Bear leaves his cave on Bear Island to see some of the United States’ best-known landmarks. He begins with Lady Liberty in New York Harbor, where he climbs to the top.
Mount Rushmore, the Florida Everglades, and the Alamo all make appearances. Henry stops by Hollywood and sees the monuments on the National Mall in Washington. Each place has a shop to buy souvenirs, of course, and Henry returns to his den with plenty to help him remember his trip.
The gently rhyming text along with colorful, detailed pictures, make this a good book to introduce young children to the idea of a vacation or trip, not just the specific places mentioned. Parents could help children think through steps like packing a bag and preparing to travel, and then talk about the kinds of things they will see and do.
God Bless America is a good way to begin teaching young children about important places in our country. The title and ending also demonstrate thanking God for what He gives us. The sturdy board book format makes it appropriate for younger children to handle, while using animals makes the illustrations more child-friendly. Pick up a copy for the toddler in your life.
