Flying colors A guide to flags from around the world

Robert Fresson

Book - 2017

"By exploring the patterns, colors and crests of flags, we can learn all about the histories and aspirations of the countries they represent. Did you know that the flag of Nepal is the only one with more than four sides? Or that the flag of Mozambique features a book, a hoe and an AK47? Discover all this and more... Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of vexillology!"--Page [4] of cover.

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Subjects
Published
London : Cicada Books Limited [2017]
Language
English
Main Author
Robert Fresson (author)
Other Authors
Robin Jacobs (author)
Physical Description
109 pages : color illustrations, color maps ; 26 cm
ISBN
9781908714466
  • Crosses and saltires
  • Tribands
  • Diagonals
  • Pan-Arab colours
  • Crescent moons
  • Animals
  • Stars
  • Pan-African colours
  • Bi-colours
  • Red and white
  • Suns and circles
  • Red, white and blue
  • Maps.
Review by Booklist Review

Who knew the study of flags (vexillology) could be so much fun? This appealing book should answer any questions young readers might have about world flags. It describes what the different crosses, saltires, tribands, bends, stars, suns, circles, bicolors, and animals (mythical and real) on the world's flags represent. Many flag symbols reflect the political struggle countries have experienced or show hopes and beliefs. Intriguing little brown-skinned robed figures are shown carrying the different symbols that illustrate each flag. Opening comprehension questions help guide reading, and there are plenty of interesting facts about flags across the world. A glossary offers explanations for parts of a flag, while vintage-style illustrations cleverly help represent the recognizable geography of different countries. Blank end pages give readers space to design their own flags (not ideal for library collections). Despite the lack of an index and the difficulty sometimes in distinguishing between dark blue and dark green on some flags, this is a surprisingly moving and informative book.--Rawlins, Sharon Copyright 2018 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Readers who are intrigued by signs and symbols will find a treasure trove of information in this handbook of world flags. Miniature figures dressed in pillowy uniforms (they are "vexillogists," individuals who study flags) serve as guides to what flag colors and symbols represent. Jacobs explores the meanings of crosses (the Dominican Republic's flag); tribands (including the flags of Belgium, Italy, and Peru); crescent moons (the Libyan flag); suns and circles (the Indian and Japanese flags); and other design features. Snippets of world history serve to further convey how the flags came to be and what they mean: "Eritrea was annexed to Ethiopia. The Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) fought a bloody battle against this new occupation. The star in their flag demonstrates the group's socialist revolutionary ideals." Jacobs's intriguing insights are gracefully paired with Fresson's polished digital graphics, which recall classic Tintin illustrations. Ages 6-12. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 2-6-Budding vexillologists will want to get their hands on this book. Jacobs's guide to the flags of the world is beautiful and informative. After a brief walk through the history of flags in general, the author offers a two-page lesson on flag design, with definitions of many of the unique terms associated with vexillology (the study of flags). The rest of the book is dedicated to each of the flags of the world, organized by specific design elements. The pages are filled with various historical iterations of a country's flag, with brief captions outlining how and why flags changed over time. Intriguing facts and sidebars are included on every spread and provide a broad understanding of flags and their use throughout the world. Maps at the end offer an opportunity to locate unfamiliar countries mentioned within, and empty pages are available for young enthusiasts to create their own flags. The entire design, from whimsical endpapers filled with people carrying all sorts of flags to the thick, creamy pages, makes for an utterly browsable, attractive package. VERDICT Recommended for most libraries.-Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA © Copyright 2018. 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 Kirkus Book Review

Flags elicit complex emotions, and so will this celebration of flags around the globe.Flags are often records of conquest or colonization. Many of them feature the Union Jack, as a reminder that the British Empire once ruled almost a quarter of the world. It's a poignant detail, and it's also led to flags that look as if they were designed by a committee. The Union Jack, for example, throws together symbols from England, Scotland, and Ireland. Some readers may find themselves longing for the flag of Brunei, which, for generations, was a plain yellow rectangle. Fresson doesn't judge. The book has been laid out so skillfully that even the busiest flag looks beautiful. In a few cases, the images in the background mirror the colors of the flags; the Greek flag is in front of a pale blue seascape, for instance. There's a surprising amount of drama in the book. Afghanistan, he notes, has gone through so many upheavals that its flag has changed 21 times. There's even a bit of humor, or at least whimsy. Tiny figures dressed in primary colors (with brown skin) manually assemble the different icons that make up each flag. They look like little cheerleaders or superheroes, though he calls them the Vexillologists. The book does not try for comprehensiveness and avoids current controversy (the flag of Tibet is not on display, for instance); its organization by design rather than geography makes it ideal for browsing.Readers who know the definition of "vexillologist" may be the target audience, but even people with no interest in geography might find themselves entertained and even a little tearful. (Nonfiction. 6-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.