Can We Ring the Liberty Bell?

K-Gr 2—These cheerful introductions to American Symbols are ideal for early elementary students. Each title operates on the premise that a group of children is learning about a symbol by participating in a class lesson or by going on a field trip to see the symbol itself. The storylike narrative is simple, engaging, and informative. The author pulls in images and comparisons that help the youngest elementary school students grasp new concepts ("'What's a symbol?' Ethan asks. 'A symbol is something that stands for something else,' Mr. Gomez answers. 'Like a green light means go!' says Jolie."). The bright, cartoon illustrations feature a variety of people: men, women, children, black, white, and Latino, and one character appears in a wheelchair. All in all, an appealing first look at American emblems.