(3) K-3 Illustrated by Matt Faulkner. This upbeat book about America and Americans focuses on the diversity of a country built by immigrants (and briefly acknowledges the tragic losses of American Indians). Faulkner's warm watercolor and pencil illustrations enhance Shamir's friendly, folksy text highlighting America's proudest and darkest moments. Quirky facts and a friendly tone will appeal to kids. An author's note with resources is appended. Timeline.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Matt Faulkner. This engaging and entertaining book breaks down the importance of democratic elections, from school boards all the way up to the presidency. An abundance of information is pleasingly presented in concise question-and-answer paragraphs and bite-size fact boxes on every spread. Faulkner's watercolor and pencil sketches provide a warm, cheerful backdrop to the encouraging text. An author's note with resources is appended. Timeline.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Matt Faulkner. This unique title puts readers in first family members' shoes as it introduces the evolving roles of presidents' spouses throughout American history. Shamir, in lively, humorous language, shares both lesser- and well-known facts pertaining to First Ladies' personalities, occupations, causes, and more. Caricature-like watercolor and pencil illustrations underscore the levity. Concludes with a chronological list of First Ladies and an author's note with resources.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Matt Faulkner. Through Q and A (from "Why is America called the 'Land of the Free'?" to "How can we keep spreading and celebrating American freedom?"), Shamir looks at the birth of freedom and growth of civil rights in America. Engaging prose and informative sidebars work seamlessly with humorous watercolor and pencil illustrations packed with details to pore over. "Who's who" list and author's note (with resources) appended. Timeline.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Matt Faulkner. Rappaport's broad survey of women's suffrage (from early America to ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment) touches on many important people and events to explain the movement's scope. Faulkner's caricaturish illustrations are massively expressive and make interesting use of perspective and scale--as when, for instance, male lawmakers tower over undeterred suffragettes Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. Reading list, timeline, websites.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Matt Faulkner. Bear and Hare want six more weeks of winter. Squirrel and Sparrow want an early spring. All four bribe Groundhog to rule in their favor. In the end, Groundhog cannot ignore his shadow, even if it means displeasing some of his friends. Rich paintings of anthropomorphized forest creatures are engaging, though the story's messages about friendship and honesty aren't very clear.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Matt Faulkner. Anderson's saucy text challenges conventionally taught American Revolutionary history. Readers will be hooked by her thoroughly infectious humor as they learn about the girls and women who organized boycotts, spied on Redcoats, and disguised themselves as male soldiers. Faulkner's detailed ink and watercolor art shows women crashing the scene, while brief paragraphs explain their heroic feats. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2008

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Matt Faulkner. Young Abe's devotion to his mother and grief over her death are here emphasized as seminal to his later life. His early schooling and gradual acceptance of his stepmother are also highlighted as turning points. St. George's comfortably colloquial style will engage readers. The mood of the caricature illustrations doesn't always match the text.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Matt Faulkner. This picture book biography of Roosevelt's childhood, concentrating on his bouts with ill health, his father's strong influence, and his own tenaciousness, constitutes a vigorous story in six short chapters. St. George's skill in presenting information with a light touch keeps the pace lively, while Faulkner's gouache illustrations, with their near-caricatures of young Teedie, further animate the narrative. Bib.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2004

(4) 4-6 Don't Know Much About series. Illustrated by Matt Faulkner. This book's gimmicky FAQ format follows a chronological--and reasoned--approach to U.S. history. Whether writing about native people, presidents, or popular culture, Davis balances attitudes of the period and more current interpretations. Sidebars, primary quotations, black-and-white photos, cartoons, and timelines both enrich and clutter the text. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Matt Faulkner & Matt Faulkner. Twenty-six clever parodies of classic poems by Shakespeare, Dickinson, and others ably retain the rhythm and meter of the originals: e.g., "Macaroni and Cheese," a riff on Poe's "Annabel Lee," begins, "It was many and many a week ago / that I and my sister Louise / first tried out a food that you might know / called macaroni and cheese." Faulkner's spirited illustrations suit the lighthearted transmogrifications.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Matt Faulkner. Exploring the origin and evolution of Thanksgiving, this book introduces readers to Sarah Hale, the woman who persuaded Lincoln to declare it a national holiday (and an ancestor of the author). Faulkner's lighthearted ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations, rich in humor and pop culture, successfully combine with the conversational narrative. A lengthy historical note is included. Bib.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Matt Faulkner. Our argyle-sweater-clad, bow-tie-wearing protagonist goes to the "widder woman" for some "glue stew" to stick his scattered brains together. Country diction in the riddle-rich narrative and Faulkner's crosshatched artwork (which throws plenty of winks to readers) combine for a great tall tale.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Matt Faulkner. A boy who hates peas makes a deal with a monster who will consume the unsavory vegetables for him in exchange for his possessions. But when the monster demands the boy's dog in exchange for his services, the boy decides to eat his own peas. While the story is told in wordy rhyme, it is illustrated with bold, textured paintings.

Reviewer: Mark Adam