Happy Birthday America: Celebrating America's Birthday with Books

Fireworks, parades, and the singing of our National Anthem are symbolic reminders of the Fourth of July. The day when we all come together to celebrate the birthday of our nation: The United States.

The United States is such a varied and culturally diverse nation that owes its history to the many peoples who came to its shores and brought their traditions and folklore with them. The fanciful tales that they told have been incorporated into the essence and hallmarks of our nation: freedom, pride, and American ingenuity.

Below you will find a sampling of these tales and biographies of famous people that will liven up any Fourth of July family get-together or relaxed day spent celebrating our nation's birth.

American Folklore
Saving the Liberty Bell story by Megan McDonald (JE McDonald)
Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood by Mike Artell (J 398.2 USA Art)
Kumak's House: A Tale of the Far North by Michael Bania (J 398.2 USA Ban)
Jack The Giant Chaser: An Appalachian Tale by Kenn and Joanne Compton (J 398.2 USA Com)
LaPin Plays Possum: Trickster Tales from the Louisiana Bayou Adapted by Sharon Arms Doucet (J 398.2 USA Dou)
Pecos Bill: A Tall Tale retold and illustrated by Steven Kellogg (J 398.2 USA Kel)
Cindy Ellen: A Wild Western Cinderella by Susan Lowell (J 398.2 USA Low)
Dusty Locks and the Three Bears by Susan Lowell (J 398.2 USA Low)
American Tall Tales by Mary Pope Osborne (J 398.2 USA Osb)

Biographies
Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books by Kay Winters and Nancy
Carpenter (J 921 Lincoln Win)
Dolley Madison by Jean L.S. Patrick (J 921 Madison, D Pat)
Haym Salomon: American Patriot by Susan Goldman Rubin (J 921 Salomon Rub)
George Washington's Teeth by Deborah Chandra and Madeline Comora (J 921 Washington Cha)

Americana
Fireworks, Picnics and Flags: The Story of the Fourth of July Symbols by James Cross Giblin (J 394.2634)
The Flag Maker by Susan Cambell Bartoletti (J 929.92 Bar)
State Flags (Including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) by Sue R. Brandt (J 929.9 Bra)
Our National Symbols by Linda Carlson Johnson (J 929.9 Joh)
American Flag Q & A by The Smithsonian (J 929 Tho)

Check out some of these books beautiful and inviting covers below.

Let's Celebrate the Fourth of July!

What are you doing this Fourth of July? Having a picnic, watching the fireworks, or enjoying the sights and sounds of a patriotic parade? Here are a few ideas to get the kids excited about celebrating America's birthday. 

• Create your own parade! Make instruments out of pots and pans and other household utensils, blow up a few balloons, cut up construction paper to create confetti and play patriotic music as you march through your home. 
• Make a red, white and blue fruit salad. Cut strawberries and blueberries and add a whipped topping such as Kool-whip for a delicious and refreshing dessert. 
• Go on a red, white and blue scavenger hunt. Have your child point out all the items in your home which are red, white, and blue. 
• Design your own flag using construction paper. Use a piece of red construction paper as your base. Cut stripes out of white construction paper and evenly space and glue onto the red construction paper. Cut a a rectangular shape out of blue construction paper and glue onto the side of the flag. Use tin foil star stickers for the stars. Glue onto a paint stirrer and proudly wave your flag! 
• Blow bubbles and as they pop make crackling and popping noises like exploding fireworks. 
• Read one of the poems below to get into the holiday spirit!

Fourth of July Poetry

Celebrate!

It's a day for parades and for clowns who say "hi!"

For loud marching bands and balloons in the sky. 

It's a flag-waving day! Here's a flag just for you.

Hooray for parades and the red, white, and blue!

We love parades. 

Night Sparkle

Splintering, scattering, like stars that are shattering, dazzling fireworks flash. 

Echoing, thundering, like cannonballs rumbling, fireworks...

Crackle and crash! 

(Source: Come To My Party and Other Shape Poems by Heidi B. Roemer)