A moving celebration of "America the Beautiful" featuring artwork from ten distinguished artists and inspiring presidential quotes! AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL: TOGETHER WE STANDEach of our presidents has had a unique vision of America. In AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL, these ideas are translated into gorgeous illustrations by such top artists as Bryan Collier, Jon J Muth, Diane Goode, Mary GrandPre, Raul Colon, Sonia Lynn Sadler, Yuyi Morales, John Hendrix, LeUyen Pham, and Chris Soentpiet. Each of these talented illustrators has found a unique way to interpret the values and beliefs that have built our great country. Through moving illustrations, AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL integrates the lyrics of the familiar patriotic tune with inspiring presidential quotations. AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL will help teach children about our country's great leaders while highlighting American values such as diversity, unity, and freedom. In addition, the back cover will feature a quote from the winner of the 2012 presidential election. K-Gr 5-When illustrations from 10 prominent children's book artists are combined with the words from Bates's "America the Beautiful" and quotations from a range of United States presidents, the result is a beautiful, patriotic ode to the best of our nation. This multifaceted concept is elegantly executed in a book that will be useful to anyone seeking to engage children in learning more about American history, landmarks, and symbols. Words from Jimmy Carter set the tone, saying, "We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams." Each illustration, masterfully rendered by artists such as Yuyi Morales, Jon J Muth, LeUyen Pham, and Chris Soentpiet, among other stars, depicts a multiethnic, multicultural view of the possibilities America represents. The book design successfully integrates the various elements. Pictorial spreads leave one panel open for the quotations, while Bates's words appear in large type at the bottom or top of each illustration. The quotations all focus on helping others and being our best selves, individually and as a country. In a time when political debate is sharply divided, this book reminds us that some ideals are part of our national heritage and stand above the disagreements.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Combining historic quotes from many presidents with illustrations by leading children’s book illustrators, this celebration of Bates’ 1893 poem, now one of our patriotic standards, shows and tells the rich diversity of the U.S. The opening quote by Jimmy Carter—We become not a melting pot, but a beautiful mosaic— is matched with Chris Soentpiet’s handsome double-page image of a group of smiling kids in which each child is painted as an individual portrait, all different, all together. The quotes—from Abraham Lincoln (All men are created equal) and Thomas Jefferson, to John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Barack Obama (We are the change that we seek)—offer inspiring messages that are illustrated by well-known artists, including Bryan Collier, Raúl Colón, Yuyi Morales, and LeUyen Pham, whose cover image shows a crowd of smiling children dressed in stars and stripes. The final scene connects historical images of immigrants’ arrivals with contemporary skyscrapers and fireworks in the sky. Appended notes include more about national landmarks, symbols, and Bates. Great for sharing with a young audience on national holidays. Preschool-Grade 3. --Hazel Rochman ZEN SHORTS by Jon J Muth was a Caldecott Honor Book.DAVE THE POTTER, MARTIN'S BIG WORDS, and ROSA, all illustrated by Bryan Collier, were Caldecott Honor Books.WHEN I WAS YOUNG IN THE MOUNTAINS, illustrated by Diane Goode, was a Caldecott Honor Book. LeUyen Pham is the bestselling illustrator of Real Friends by Shannon Hall, The Princess in Black series with Shannon and Dean Hall, the Freckleface series by Julianne Moore, Hats Off to You and Shoe-la-la! by Karen Beaumont, and Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio, as well as many others. She lives and works in Los Angeles with her husband and her two adorable sons who are best friends. Visit LeUyen at leuyenpham.com. Mary GrandPré has illustrated more than twenty beautiful books, including The Noisy Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock, which received a Caldecott Honor; Cleonardo, the Little Inventor , of which she is also the author; and the original American editions of all seven Harry Potter novels. Her work has also appeared in the New Yorker , the Atlantic Monthly , and the Wall Street Journal , and her paintings and pastels have been shown in galleries across the United States. Ms. GrandPré lives in Sarasota, Florida, with her family. Jon J Muth is beloved all over the world for his seven books featuring Stillwater th