A year later, the British burned the capitol in Washington, D.C., and then headed their ships toward Baltimore. During the fierce battle that ensued, Francis Scott Key was inspired to write a poem about the flag that flew over Fort McHenry. That poem, �The Star-Spangled Banner,� later became our country�s national anthem. Caroline�s flag, though tattered and war-torn, was still flying over the fort after the battle ended. That flag is still held dear in the hearts of all Americans, and can be seen today at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
Susan Campbell Bartoletti is an award-winning author of children�s nonfiction, and she provides a bibliography of sources consulted in writing this book. A list of interesting facts about the flag, as well as an �author�s note� at the back of the book, make it clear that the author is delivering information using a fictionalized story. Some critics feel that she took unfair liberties by weaving fact with fiction: �The tale is impeccably told, and the pictures are delicate and detailed. However, few hard facts are supplied in the text, known facts are altered, and suppositions are presented as true.� (Horn Book Guide, October 1, 2004)
Like the Magic School Bus books, this informational picture storybook borrows from the techniques of fiction, an accepted mode of delivering information to young children. The supplementary material at the back of the book explains which parts of the story are based on fact and which are based on educated speculation.
Bartoletti uses an engaging, narrative style of writing that reads like a story. She varies the length of sentences to add interest and heighten tension during dramatic moments in the drama: �All that day, Caroline tried to go about her work. She sewed. She swept. She looked for her flag and waited for news.� (p. 16) She also uses sensual imagery to engage the reader: �The wool bunting itched. The needle pricked. Caroline�s fingers ached, and her eyes felt gritty and sore.� (p. 10)
The design of the book is inviting, with a colorful jacket and artwork, plenty of white space, and text printed in a large, easily-readable font. The end papers are the same blue as that found in the American flag. The illustrations by Claire A. Nivola complement and extend the story, both in subject and style. The brilliant water-color and gauche images are reminiscent of the folk-art contemporary to the era, especially the street scenes. �The book's resonance owes as much to the delicate watercolors as to Bartoletti's controlled storytelling; Nivola's tidy, tranquil interiors serve as a ringing counterpoint to the chaos in the background.� (Booklist, March 1, 2004)
Although aimed at a young audience, the author never �talks down� to her readers. She uses a vocabulary and expressions that are appropriate for the subject. Expressions like �hoist to fly,� �bunting,� and �malt house� are terms with which most children are unfamiliar, but explanations are provided either directly or by the context.
This book has its merits, but the author's note must be read so that the line between fact and fiction can be appreciated by the reader. Although it is true that �this book should be complemented by more academic materials in a school setting� (School Library Journal, April 1, 2004), it tells the story of the Star-Spangled Banner from a fresh perspective, and will pique the reader�s interest for meatier books on the subject.
Award
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award
Related Websites
Susan Campbell Bartoletti�s Website: http://www.scbartoletti.com/
Meet Susan Campbell Bartoletti: http://www.childrenslit.com/f_bartoletti.html
Star-Spangled Banner Website: http://americanhistory.si.edu/ssb/
Source
Books in Print [database online]. Available from http://www.booksinprint.com. Accessed 17 October 2004.
School of Library and Information Studies
TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY