Starred Review ALA Booklist

Starred Review Finally, here's a picture book that helps young children move beyond rote recitation of the Pledge to find meaning in its language. Deconstructing the poem word by word, the bright spreads feature a word or phrase in large type with explanations appearing in smaller print. Simple, precise definitions for words such as allegiance and republic mix with historical facts (including who wrote the Pledge and when) and insight into patriotism and its symbols (Why our flag isn't orange and pink). Raschka's cheerful, abstract ink-and-paper-scrap collages really work here. God, for example, is a spiral of deep-blue paper scraps above non-denominational text: Many people believe that a democracy is a reflection of how God thinks--every single person is important. On another spread, a crowd of brush-lined cartoon figures and bright color blocks show each figure's uniqueness as well as the dazzling impact of the united whole. Profound in their simplicity, the text and images are still difficult, and they may work best in group discussion. Given all the recent controversy over the Pledge, this is the book parents and teachers have been waiting for.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2-This engaging, informative book not only emphasizes the importance of this ritual, but also gives the history and significance of each word and phrase, e.g., "A pledge is a promise." "Allegiance is loyalty." Raschka's eye-catching and appealing illustrations done in ink and torn paper add interest and lightness to the pages. His spare, stylized cartoon figures effectively convey the intangible concepts of liberty and justice with the same deft touch as for the concrete concepts. This title is perfect for primary-grade children as they learn to recite this oath.-Krista Tokarz, Cuyahoga County Public Library, OH Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

This attempt to explain the Pledge's meaning to younger children is at least as simplistic as it is enlightening. Using a combination of torn paper and simple, fluidly brushed strokes, Raschka ( Be Boy Buzz , p. 1310, etc.) supplies a brightly colored backdrop of stylized children and adults, against which the Pledge's words, generally one by one, are printed in large type and glossed in smaller: "God. Many people believe that a democracy is how God thinks—every single person is important." Martin and Sampson ( Tricks or Treat? , below, etc.) fill in bits of the historical background, mentioning Frances Bellamy, the Pledge's original composer, but not that his version was very different from the present one, and closing with a dizzying recapitulation: "The flag stands for our history, our inventions, our music, sports, literature, faith . . . " Children curious about the meaning of what so many of them are compelled to promise every morning in school will get less lyrical, but more factual, commentary from June Swanson's I Pledge Allegiance (1990). (Picture book. 6-8)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

"This cleverly designed volume spells out the concrete meaning behind the words in the Pledge of Allegiance while deftly communicating the democratic spirit and principles that inspired it," <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">PW wrote. Ages 6-9. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(July)

Horn Book

The patriotic oath mumbled unthinkingly everyday by countless schoolchildren is here deconstructed line by line to help pledgers become aware of what they are saying (e.g., "A pledge is a promise. / Allegiance is loyalty"). Dominated by red, white, and blue, Raschka's energetic, doodle-like painted forms and torn construction-paper collages make the authors' straightforward explanations all the more accessible.