Available:*
Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Bayport Public Library | J 342.7302 LUS | Searching... Unknown |
Bound With These Titles
On Order
Summary
Summary
Learn how the U.S. Constitution established the American government and what this document means for modern Americans. Additional features to aid comprehension include fact-filled captions and sidebars, detailed photographs, informational diagrams, a table of contents, a phonetic glossary, sources for further research, an index, and an introduction to the author.
Author Notes
Marcia Amidon Lusted is a published author of over forty nonfiction books for children and young adults. She is also an assistant editor for the Cobblestone Publishing magazine group, and an instructor for the Institute of Children's Literature. Her titles include: Wisconsin: The Badger State, Ohio: The Buckeye State, Illinois: The Prairie State, Cosmelic Surgery Essential Viewpoints and Social Networking - MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-5-With 24 pages per book, these titles are brief. Even so, elegant design and substantive content make them strong contenders. Each one tackles a specific component of U.S. government and describes, in brief, the influences and other formative issues surrounding it. For instance, in How the Government Works, the author explains that even though the original 13 colonies technically rebelled against Great Britain, they still borrowed ideas from the British government when forming their own. Contemporary aspects of each subject are described as well, such as the ongoing debate about the merits and demerits of the electoral college in How Elections Work. The nature of how the U.S. government is structured means that some content overlaps (the need for a constitutional convention is described in The Bill of Rights and The U.S. Constitution), but not so much that one title can be overlooked when ordering. The illustrations are a solid balance of archival paintings, maps, photographs, and graphics. VERDICT Just in time for the election season, a great primer for U.S. government classes. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Designed to give middle-grade readers a basic understanding of American governmental operations, this series includes a broad overview (Government); information about the function of each branch; framework for our country's individual and collective freedoms (Bill of Rights and Constitution); and clarification on the electoral process (Elections). Photographs, illustrations, charts, and sidebars add interest to the choppy but informative texts. Reading list. Glos., ind. [Review covers the following How America Works titles: How Elections Work, How the Government Works, How the Judicial Branch Works, The Bill of Rights, The U.S. Constitution, How the Executive Branch Works, and How the Legislative Branch Works.] (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* The How America Works series examines foundational elements of the U.S. government at a level appropriate for upper-elementary readers. This volume introduces the U.S. Constitution by first describing why the country's founders felt it was needed, the events of the 1787 Constitutional Convention, and the Constitution's ratification. Having ensured that readers understand the purpose of this document, the book then supplies a simple, clearly worded breakdown of its three parts: the preamble, articles, and amendments. Lusted does an impressive job of explaining how the U.S. government works as she walks readers through its creation, as laid out by the Constitution, effectively describing its three branches and built-in system of checks and balances. The clean design nicely balances white space with the text, color illustrations, and fact boxes. A Constitution time line and government chart will help students grasp key dates and concepts, while the shorter sentences and textual repetition make it accessible to struggling readers. This unassuming title succeeds splendidly in relating the Constitution's history, raison d'être, and continued importance in protecting American's liberties today.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2016 Booklist
