When I was a kid, my first personal connection to American history came through a story about Francis Scott Key writing the poem that would later become our National Anthem.  That was just a short bit in a history mag (I think–my memory’s vague) but this story written by Monica Kulling and Illustrated by Richard Waltz would have a similar impact, I think.

My calling Francis Scott Key’s Star Spangled Banner a middle grade is a bit of a stretch, since the recommended age tops off at eight.  But, I think it’s written with the right tongue-in-cheek humor to appeal to older kids, too, if they can get past the fact that it’s got so many pictures.  And the pictures have a wry humor to them that lends itself to a multi-age audience.  The eleven children mentioned as Mr. Key’s sons and daughters aren’t shown sitting nicely in a row smiling at the camera.  Rather, they’re running helter skelter and look like a rather rowdy bunch.  They fit well with the narrative flow and the facts chosen, like that Mr. Key wasn’t a terribly successful soldier–either of the times he attempted it.

I will say that I wonder how accurate the pic of the eleven kids is, since it shows a scene that could fit in any walk of colonial life, but suggests the merchant or farmer class.  In reality, Francis Scott Key was a wealthy, privileged man and a slave owner, rather than the mild mannered and bumbling poet he seems here.  So as a biography I think it falls something short of accurate.  But, it does provide a connection point for kids and the National Anthem that goes beyond a pop star mixing up the lyrics or lip-synching her way through it at a sporting event.

Let’s see what Apricot-kitty thinks:

“You know I don’t care for fireworks–or screeching humans, either.  The book was mildly amusing, but couldn’t make up for it’s basic premise that humans should be encouraged in either of those pursuits.  Really, have you no compassion for the sensitive hearing of your animal friends?  You’d be better off celebrating with a nice fat mouse.”

That makes it a mixed review, from both of us.  Got any better books on the Star Spangled Banner I could pick up?  What about the American Revolution?  I’m always on the lookout for great books, and of course start my middle grade search with the MMGM features collected each week on Shannon’s blog!

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