Review by Booklist Review
Not long before the Fourth of July, Lady Liberty woke up feeling a little blue . . . despite being green. Liberty is bored seeing the same scenery day after day. Give yourself a holiday! Moe, her pigeon friend, suggests. For three days, Liberty enjoys things like building a sand castle at Cape Cod, washing the sand off her feet at Niagara Falls, and watching the Mississippi River from the top of the St. Louis Arch. But without her presence, New Yorkers are not in the holiday mood. Moe has to find Liberty and get her back home before the mayor cancels Fourth of July. Arena collaborates with Hunt to turn a nonsensical story into an entertaining educational opportunity. Engaging text and comical scenes cover perspective (Liberty's size relative to the areas she visits), geography (compass directions, states, postcards to Moe), history and a list of resources for further research on the Statue of Liberty. A fun read offering early-elementary-school readers a glimpse into America's grandeur.--Lock, Anita Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this freewheeling tale, the Statue of Liberty steps off her pedestal to tour natural and man-made U.S. landmarks. Arena (Besos for Baby) and Hunt (Worm Weather) pool their talents and senses of humor to set Lady Liberty free after she complains that she's bored of the same scenery, and has sore arms and a leg cramp that's lasted "for a decade at least." Sneaking off, the statue washes sand from the beaches of New Jersey and Cape Cod off her feet at Niagara Falls, sits atop the St. Louis Arch, hikes the Rockies, naps on the Golden Gate Bridge, and perches on a Grand Canyon ledge, where "for once in her life, Lady Liberty felt small." The book's visual comedy mostly derives from the statue's gargantuan size-one particularly funny scene shows the statue photo-bombing the presidents at Mount Rushmore, perplexing tourists. Arena includes information about the statue's history and statistics in a closing note, but leaves those details out of the story, keeping Lady Liberty's journey lighthearted and fun. Ages 5-8. Author's agent: Jill Corcoran, Jill Corcoran Literary Agency. Illustrator's agency: Bright Literary Agency. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-The Statue of Liberty is bored. She tells her pigeon friend, "Moe, every day feels the same. I see the same skyscrapers, the same city." Moe encourages her to take a holiday. She begins with the Jersey Shore, Cape Cod, and Niagara Falls and continues west from there. The illustrations present famous landmarks and landscapes from across the country. Confused tourists look on as she peeks over the top of Mount Rushmore. Sitting on the edge of the Grand Canyon, "for once in her life, Lady Liberty [feels] small." She makes it to California and stops to doze at the Golden Gate Bridge. Meanwhile, New York City is concerned. The missing statue puts a damper on the Fourth of July preparations. Moe sets out to find his friend and bring her home. The statue is enjoying a leisurely stroll through a Southern swamp when Moe finds her. "Nobody feels like celebrating without you," he says. The statue replies, "But the Fourth of July isn't about me. It's about America! I've seen this country. The purple mountains, the shining seas, the bridges and buildings. Everyone should know how amazing it is and celebrate it!" She runs north and reaches New York City in time for the fireworks. "And Liberty [is] blue no longer." She tells Moe, "It was good to get away. But it's great to be home." The final pages explain how the statue came to America and include a page of short facts and further resources. VERDICT The book is not subtle, but it provides a bright, colorful opening for teachers and parents wanting to expose children to the variety of America's landscape through engaging mixed-media illustrations and a simple story. A fun and fabulous read for a Fourth of July storytime.-Amelia Jenkins, Juneau Public Library, AK © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Tired of standing in one position for a hundred-plus years, Lady Liberty sets off on foot to see America. Will she make it home by July fourth, or will the holiday be canceled? It's rewarding armchair sightseeing, and Hunt injects humor into the illustrations of Liberty making the rounds (she's an impressive fifth head on Mount Rushmore). Historical information is appended. Reading list. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
