My Country 'Tis of Thee: How One Song Reveals the History of the Civil Rights

Reviewed by: Ann Marie Townnsend - South Berwick Public Library, South Berwick, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: March 10, 2015

Review

Well written and informative, this picture book about a song we grew up singing has quite a history. This traces the history of the song back to England in the 1740's as "God Save the King" This follows the song and it's many verses through the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, dozens of new verses to celebrate the new country and new president, and in 1795 for women's rights. In 1831 Samuel Frances Smith wrote patriotic verses to an old German melody, not knowing it was shared with "God Save the King", it was first sung in a Boston church, titled "America". Abolitionists wrote protest verses during the Civil War and soldiers from both sides sang their own verses. In 1865 free black people sang new verses, also used by labor activists,women's rights activists, Native Americans and for civil rights and ends with being sung at the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama. Readers are then invited to "write a new verse for a cause you believe in." Includes source notes, bibliography, further resources. The many verses included are inspiration. Collier's illustrations, using watercolor and collage go well with text. For grades 4-6, useful for mentor texts, position writing, civil rights units, music and history.

Overall Book Score: excellent