Book Review, Genre 3: WE ARE AMERICA: A TRIBUTE FROM THE HEART
Author: Walter Dean Myers
Title: We Are America: A Tribute from the Heart
Illustrator: Christopher Myers
Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books
Publication Date: 2011
ISBN: 9780060523084
Plot summary: Whether you read the individual poems, or read
the book as one whole poem, We Are America: A Tribute from the Heart by Walter
Dean Myers explores the diversity in people, wealth, dreams and desire that
make up the United States. The author’s son, Christopher, creates mural-like
paintings for readers to look at as if hearing the poem in a museum setting.
Critical analysis: At first blush, this is a patriotic poem
in a children’s picture book format. The reader will find much more depth to
the poems and illustrations when they take the time to read the Author’s Note
by Walter Dean Myers: “We Are America comes from my heart, but it also comes
from a lifetime of observations. … This is simply my truest feelings for my
country, my tribute to America.”
The illustrations by Christopher Myers, son of the poet and
author Walter Dean Myers, takes the reader on a journey of America’s history
while simultaneously relating the past to the present with illustrations
depicting images one could see on the nightly national news. Quotes from
America’s history are scattered throughout the pages and tie in with the poems
and illustrations. At the back of the book, readers can learn more about the
meaning of the quotes, as well as notes on the artwork.
On a page illustrated with ships, Walter Dean Myers writes: “I
dreamed a freedom dream/I heard a freedom song/The pull of hope/The taut bow of
anticipation/The arrow of adventure/Flying across the ocean.” Myers conveys his
pride in being an American through his use of poetic language: freedom, hope, anticipation,
adventure – all things people coming to American dream of.
To fully immerse yourself in the poem picture book of We Are
America, read the poems while imagining yourself at a history museum. Look at
the illustrations as if they are murals lining the museum hallways. Hear the
words of the poems as if standing and observing the museum murals. Read the
Author’s Note, the Artist’s Note, the Quotations, and the Art Notes as aides of
understanding at the museum exhibits.
Review excerpt:
- 2013 Audie Award, Finalist United States
- 2011 Cybils Awards, Finalist United States
- 2011 Kirkus Best Children’s Books
From Booklist May 1, 2011 (Vol. 107, No. 17) by Andrew Medlar: Walter
Dean Myers’s narrative can be read as a single poem or multiple offerings, each
one exploring a different facet of America from past to present.
Myers moves chronologically forward in time as he reveals defining events in
the history of a nation still emerging. Christopher Myers s illustrations
appear like murals on each page spread, offering a stunning panorama of the
nation’s history juxtaposed with images of who we are today.
From Kirkus Reviews, April 1, 2011 (Vol. 79, No. 7): The Myers
team shares their heartfelt and stirring vision of an America flawed
but filled with promises and dreams. Like weavers connecting warp and woof,
father threads lofty words and son paints seamless pictures. Each double-page
spread contains a brief poem and usually a quote from a relevant document or
person. A mural rendered in pastels spans both pages. Homage is paid to young
people; Native Americans; immigrants from Europe, Africa and Asia; laborers,
protesters, soldiers and performers.
Connections:
- Teachers can learn more about Walter Dean Myers for booktalks and author information at: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/contributor/walter-dean-myers
- Could be included in a story time theme around patriotic holidays. Other patriotic books to share:
- America: A Patriotic Primer by Lynne Cheney. ISBN: 978-0689851926
- America the Beautiful by Katharine Lee Bates. ISBN: 978-0316083386
- Other books about September 11th students might enjoy:
- September 11 Then and Now. ISBN: 978-0531266298
- I Survived the Attacks of September 11th, 2001. ISBN: 978-0545207003
- What Were the Twin Towers? ISBN: 978-0448487854
- Other works by Walter Dean Myers:
- The Dream Bearer. ISBN: 9780064472890
- Jazz. ISBN: 9780823415458
- Sunrise Over Fallujah. ISBN: 9780439916240
- Now Is Your Time! The African-American Struggle for Freedom. ISBN: 0060243708
Bibliography
Cover, Mount
Juliet, Tennessee. Personal photograph by Amy Wilson. October 7, 2016.
Myers, W. D.,
& Myers, C. (2011). We are America: A tribute from the heart. New York:
HarperCollins Children’s Books.
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