Independence Day: Birthday of the United States (Finding Out about Holidays)

Grade 3-5-Landau gently challenges the myths and assumptions about Columbus, acknowledging his mistreatment of Native Americans. She places the period of discovery and exploration in the Americas in a general historical context and presents varied opinions about the holiday as well as its history and diverse celebrations. There are instructions for making a sailboat from a walnut shell, paper, and clay. Mir Ansary's Columbus Day (Heinemann Library, 1998) simplifies information for a younger audience, while Vicki Liestman's Columbus Day (Carolrhoda, 1991) concentrates on the need to refocus it. Landau's book gives readers food for thought about the man, the period, and how the holiday might be interpreted and celebrated in today's world.