ALA Booklist (Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2009)

In this brightly illustrated picture book, children dressed in chunky, state-shaped costumes act out a play called "Unite or Die," which dramatizes problems that sprang up after the American Revolution and their resolution at the 1787 Constitutional Convention. Bound only by the Articles of Confederation, the little states begin by bickering about issues such as currency, borders, and trade. At the Constitutional Convention, they hammer away until they have created an entirely new federal government. Though the subject may not seem well-suited to a picture-book format, Jules does a good job of presenting the essential ideas simply, and Czekaj's droll, cartoon-like illustrations may appeal to some students beyond the primary-grade range. Amusing remarks as well as bits of information are relayed in speech balloons, while on each double-page spread, a few sentences of text introduce the main ideas, as a narrator would. The book concludes with four pages of notes and a bibliography. An original presentation of a pivotal point in U.S. history.

Horn Book (Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2005)

Materials; directions for drawing people, animals, and objects; the difference between gag cartoons, comic strips, and comic books, plus a section on writing humor are all covered in this clear introduction to the art of cartooning. Though it may not answer all questions, the upbeat tone, creative exercises, and lots of example illustrations will inspire budding artists. Ind.

Kirkus Reviews

Memorable for the contrast between the melodramatic title and Czekaj's funny cartoon scenes of popeyed children putting on a low-budget stage play, this account of our Constitutional Convention should leave even less attentive readers with some idea of what the resultant document is all about. The curtain rises on players in state-shaped costumes running around shouting "Hooray! Freedom!" In subsequent scenes they fall to squabbling ("I know what's best for me") under the weak Articles of Confederation, recognize the need for change and gather (all but Rhode Island, that is) in sweltering Philadelphia for long, secret negotiations—nearly failing to reach consensus until Connecticut proposes the Great Compromise over the nature of the two legislative houses. "Who will be the first to sign? George Washington, of course!" A lively way to kick off discussions of how the Constitution works and why it's still a living document, especially with readers too young to tackle Jean Fritz's Shh! We're Writing the Constitution (1987). (Informational picture book. 7-9)

School Library Journal (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

Gr 3-7 This presentation is written as if it were a school play about the 13 colonies becoming a nation. Told through colorful comic-book illustrations, it stars students dressed as states humorously explaining the path to the writing of the Constitution. The brief text is accompanied by speech balloons expressing the states' multiple, often competing, views. Anecdotes such as Ben Franklin being a big talker, George Washington's and Ben Franklin's special chairs, and the secrecy of the meetings add interest and reveal the historical figures as being real people. Even then there were concerns about the press reporting on governmental procedures. The vividly colored spreads will hold the interest of even middle school students and would be useful to introduce how our form of government was created. Students will enjoy presenting this book as reader's theater. Further information about the proceedings of the Continental Convention of 1787 is included in an afterword, and the notes section answers important questions not explained in the text. This is a great book to use along with Lane Smith's John, Paul, George, and Ben (Hyperion, 2006). Nancy Baumann, Indian Paintbrush Elementary, Laramie, WY