Grand Old Flags

When you think of Independence Day you may think of barbecues, beaches, fireworks, but this Fourth of July, consider the flag and its many uses. Iowa’s first poet laureate Marvin Bell has done just that in A Primer About The Flag ($15.99, Candlewick Press, ages 4-8) and Chris Raschka has created the artwork to accompany this delightful romp (well poem actually) around the world of flags.

The book starts with bed & breakfast flags, seafaring flags, state flags and even little flags that say bang when they’re shot out in a fake gun.

Kids will love the variety of flags described and illustrated with whimsical words and drawings. Adults will acknowledge that flags are really everywhere and Bell and Raschka make those colorful waving pieces of fabric worth paying attention to.