The U.S. Constitution is an
extraordinary document. Ten years after the Declaration of Independence was
written it became clear to leaders of the thirteen states that comprehensive
guidelines were needed to move forward from independence to governance. Betsy and
Giulio Maestro’s A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution is
an informative, easy-to-absorb description of the birth of this milestone
document. Establishing the three branches of government as well as other
enduring laws, it was soon amended by the Bill of Rights stating, in part, that
“people have the right to say what they want, go where they want, and pray to
God in the way that they want, without fear that the government will stop
them.” Appended to the wonderful narrative are a timeline, plus a summary of
the articles of the Constitution and twenty-six amendments. For ages 6-10, plus
anyone seeking a very basic introduction to this era in our history.
The Founders: The 39 Stories Behind the Constitution by Dennis Brindell Fradin, illustrated
by Michael McCurdy, provides a close look at the thirty-nine men who
signed the Constitution in support of a balanced, strong federal government
even as thirteen states had their individual interests. Constitution Translated for Kids by Cathy Travis is a "non ideological translation of the entire U.S. Constitution, side-by-side
with the original 1787 text," a fabulous resource for explaining its
meaning. Ages 10 to adult.
Related activities and interviews may be found at: TeachingBooks.net
Related activities and interviews may be found at: TeachingBooks.net
