The Journey of the One and Only Declaration of Independence
- author: Judith St. George http://www.judithstgeorge.com/
- illustrator: Will Hillenbrand http://www.willhillenbrand.com/
- mixed media including oils, inks, acrylics,gouache, colored pencil and artist crayons on transparent vellum
- year of publication: 2005
- publisher city: New York, NY
- publisher: Philomel Books
Personal Thoughts:
I located this book in the juvenile nonfiction section of the Manor Branch Library.
Call number: J 973.3, St. George
It is easy to dismiss nonfiction picturebooks like Judith St. George’s The Journey of the One and Only Declaration of Independence. The cover art makes one believe that only younger readers would appreciate this history book. But I keep getting surprised at how much important information is found inside these books I just pass by in the library. The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776 in Philadelphia. However it traveled numerous times for various reasons. It left Philly for Baltimore at the start of the Revolutionary War to keep it safe. Then back to Pennsylvania, to New Jersey, to Maryland, to New York City, then the new capital of the United States. The document on parchment paper was folded, faded, glued, taped and absorbed decades of cigar smoke. In 1941 it got a heavy facelift and is now housed at the National Archives Building in Washington.
I would recommend St. George’s book to a student doing a report on the Declaration of Independence. The writing is interesting and engaging to read, never boring. There is a useful bibliography at the book’s end plenty of facts and dates to remember. Hillenbrand’s art is charming, if not a little juvenile, but captures the theme of the subject matter of its particular page. It is a solid nonfiction picturebook.
**Curriculum Connection: 5th through 7th grade US History
**Use of Repetition: St. George refers to the original declaration as the one-and-only to emphasize its uniqueness and importance to our nation.
On page 16, It was a happy day when the British soldiers marched out of Philadelphia nine months later and the one-and-only Declaration returned tot the handsome brick Pennsylvania State House.
On page 24, Now proud Americans, whose hands weren't always clean, unfolled, examined, studied, handled, copied and re-rolled the official One-and Only.
**Curriculum Connection: 5th through 7th grade US History
**Use of Repetition: St. George refers to the original declaration as the one-and-only to emphasize its uniqueness and importance to our nation.
On page 16, It was a happy day when the British soldiers marched out of Philadelphia nine months later and the one-and-only Declaration returned tot the handsome brick Pennsylvania State House.
On page 24, Now proud Americans, whose hands weren't always clean, unfolled, examined, studied, handled, copied and re-rolled the official One-and Only.
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