The Star Spangled Banner in Translation: What It Really Means

by Elizabeth Raum

Overview

Explains the Star Spangled Banner in a way kids can understand, with the primary-source document side by side with the explanation. Also includes context and Why Should You Care? feature.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781515791348
Publisher:	Capstone Press
Publication date:	08/01/2017
Series:	Kids' Translations
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.75(w) x 8.75(h) x 0.38(d)
Lexile:	790L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 10 Years

About the Author

Elizabeth Raum has written over two-dozen nonfiction books for young readers, including a biography of Louis Armstrong for Capstone Press. Over the years, she has worked as a middle school and high school English teacher, an elementary school librarian, and a college library director. Elizabeth Raum has written many nonfiction books for children. Two of her Capstone You Choose books, Orphan Trains: An Interactive History Adventure (2011) and Can You Survive Storm Chasing? (2012), are Junior Library Guild selections. Elizabeth lives in Michigan with her husband, Richard.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 The Star-Spangled Banner: American's Song 4

Chapter 2 The Star-Spangled Banner: What Its Means 8

Chapter 3 The Star-Spangled Banner: The History Behind the Song 16

Time Line 26

Why Do I Care? 28

Translation Guide 29

Glossary 30

Internet Sites 31

Read More 31

Index 32

Interviews

Pairs primary-source documents with explanations kids can understand; links to curriculum and Common Core State Standards for history

Editorial Reviews

Gr 3-6

This is one of the more unusual and useful series of the bunch. The books, which are filled with eye-catching graphics, take important historical documents and provide a nearly line-by-line translation that makes a song, speech, or the written word accessible and meaningful. Though the volumes will generally be perfect for newcomers to these topics, some students may be unaware of the context of the less-familiar pieces, such as the "Gettysburg Address," and this information is found after the translation.

School Library Journal

The Star Spangled Banner is often described as a very difficult song because of both the melody and the words. This book attempts to make our national anthem more meaningful to children by explaining not only the unfamiliar words, but also the history and emotion behind them. As part of the "Kids' Translations" series, this book includes sections on the meaning of the document, five reasons to care about it, a history and timeline, a vocabulary review, and suggested internet sites. There is also a short index, so this book can be a useful reference tool. It includes a short, but clear summary of the War of 1812. It also provides some background information on Fort McHenry and Francis Scott Key. The graphics are engaging, using a good mix of photographs and drawings, including several battle scenes and pictures of the flag. The internet link at the end of the book leads to three excellent sites for further research and interactive educational games related to the song, the war, the flag, and related history. Although the sites are purportedly divided by grade level, the same sites are offered for both K-4 and older children.

CLCD Newsletter