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A review by lisavegan
America the Beautiful by Katharine Lee Bates
4.0
I’d meant to get a copy of this poem book by a different illustrator. But I’m happy with this edition. I love its story. The illustrator grew up in America and moved to Israel after college. An Israeli friend finally convinced him to take a road trip through America to see the sights. The paintings in this book came from that trip they took together.
I’ve always liked this song, better than our national anthem. The four verses of this poem are shown with their music on the inside covers but only the first verse appears, with illustrations, in the book.
My biggest gripe is that Niagara Falls is shown on the Canadian side, the far more beautiful side, yes, but this is supposed to be a book about America, not Canada.
All the paintings are shown again the last three pages of the book, in large thumbnail view, with their location and a bit about their location. Those locations are: Monument Valley, Niagara Falls, The Great Smoky Mountains, The Great Plains, The Grand Tetons, Napa Valley, The Grand Canyon, The Coastal Redwoods, Mesa Verde, Rainbow Bridge, Mount Rushmore, Oregon Coast, Statue of Liberty, and Pikes Peak, the location that inspired the poet to write this poem in the first place.
I did enjoy the illustrations. I like what is done with color and brushstrokes, and I like the colors used. They’re a good complement to the poem/song.
I’ve always liked this song, better than our national anthem. The four verses of this poem are shown with their music on the inside covers but only the first verse appears, with illustrations, in the book.
My biggest gripe is that Niagara Falls is shown on the Canadian side, the far more beautiful side, yes, but this is supposed to be a book about America, not Canada.
All the paintings are shown again the last three pages of the book, in large thumbnail view, with their location and a bit about their location. Those locations are: Monument Valley, Niagara Falls, The Great Smoky Mountains, The Great Plains, The Grand Tetons, Napa Valley, The Grand Canyon, The Coastal Redwoods, Mesa Verde, Rainbow Bridge, Mount Rushmore, Oregon Coast, Statue of Liberty, and Pikes Peak, the location that inspired the poet to write this poem in the first place.
I did enjoy the illustrations. I like what is done with color and brushstrokes, and I like the colors used. They’re a good complement to the poem/song.