National monuments of the U.S.A

Gr 3--6--What is a national monument? This question is answered right at the start of this comprehensive study of America's diverse monuments. Divided into eight regional chapters, pictographic maps pinpoint each of the monuments explored, while spreads describe the areas featured. It's full of intriguing facts to keep young historians' interest such as: $6 million of the money needed to renovate the Statue of Liberty in 1980 came from money raised by schoolchildren across the country; June Pride Month is in honor of the uprising on June 28, 1969, at Stonewall to fight for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. Walker's text is informative but also beautifully written. He casts the monuments in a positive light but also shares the darker past some of them have. Walker speaks often to readers, inviting them to uncover more about these monuments and seek inspiration to work toward a better world. There are no photographs, but Turnahm's artwork clearly depicts each monument; it is visually appealing to have all the pictures drawn in the artist's style. VERDICT This updated look at new and old U.S. monuments stands out because of its examination of the monuments from an equitable lens. An integral addition to all collections.--Heidi Dechief

The national monuments get their due. Walker briefly recounts the history of the monuments (thank you, Teddy Roosevelt). Instead of the usual glossy photos, the text is paired with copious subtle watercolors, harmoniously arrayed with text on generous double-page spreads. Sparkling descriptions invite reader participation: "Imagine it's 1892, and you're arriving" in New York Harbor. "What will you see in the [pipestone] rocks?" Many monuments are in sites of superb natural beauty, but unlike the national parks, they must have historical, prehistorical, cultural, and/or scientific interest. Readers will find information on dinosaur fossils, geology, flora and fauna, and places important to Indigenous people, significant in history (Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, Stonewall National Monument, the Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument), and/or connected to American leaders like Cesar Chavez. Fascinating facts are interspersed (the Washington Monument is held together through friction and gravity rather than mortar; the Pullman workers' 1894 strike helped establish Labor Day). Regional maps throughout indicate the locations of the various monuments, divided by area: East, Central, Southwest, Mountain West, West, Alaska, and Tropics. A calm, subdued palette and geometric-based forms that use washes rather than line allow for a maximum of information without fussiness and, with help from typography, evoke classic WPA posters. A glorious monument to the national monuments. (index) (Nonfiction. 6-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.