WE ARE AMERICA, written by Walter Dean Myers, Illustrated by Christopher Myers

TWU course

Book Review: WE ARE AMERICA written by Walter Dean Myers

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Myers, Walter Dean. 2011 WE ARE AMERICA. Ill. Myers, Christopher. New York: Collins.
ISBN 978-0-06-052308-4

2. PLOT SUMMARY
In the poem picture book of  "WE ARE AMERICA," Myers explain to readers about America. He uses poems and mural-like paintings to illustrate everything that has shaped America. Going back to the first man who claimed America's sacred land by expressing emotions in  free verse.  

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The illustrations that Myers used to enhance his poems are mural-like paintings. Reading the poems plus viewing the beautiful mural-like paintings stirs up emotions about certain events which took place. In a poem titled "Before there was America," shows murals with Native Americans running and enjoying their land. I see them dancing, and swaying. There is a quote "THIS LAND BELONGS TO THE FIRST WHO SITS DOWN ON HIS BLANKET..." (TECUMSEH)
In a poem titled "And from the tensions," the illustrations paint a picture of a nation that is trying to keep everyone together.

Myers uses these illustrations and poems to make readers aware of what happened in America.
    
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
KIRKUS review: "The Myers team shares their heartfelt and stirring vision of an America flawed but filled with promises and dreams. Like weavers connecting warp and woof, father threads lofty words and son paints seamless pictures. Each double-page spread contains a brief poem and usually a quote from a relevant document or person. A mural rendered in pastels spans both pages. Homage is paid to young people, Native Americans; immigrants from Europe, African and Asia; laborers, protestors, soldiers and performers. "We were willing to die to forge our dream" writes Walter Dean Myers paints snarling dogs attacking civil rights protestors, and colonial patriots throwing tea into Boston Harbor. Juxtaposed with this are the opening line to the Constitution and King George's words granting independence. In another tableau, a slave shows his terribly scarred back, Indians lie dead at Wounded Knee and Japanese American citizens stand behind barbed wire, but Americans learned to "light the darkness with the blazing torch that is the Constitution." Backmatter credits each quotation and identifies the people in each painting. The poetry and the paintings will be an excellent jumping-off for discussions. Readers will take every opportunity to pause and reflect and trace their fingers along the glorious artwork. Stunning. (Picture book/poetry. 8 & up)

5. CONNECTIONS
*Activities
Have students prepare a painting and a poem about a tragic event in America. The poem should tell a story.
*Other engaging books of poetry for ages 10-18.
Philip, Neil.SINGING AMERICA POEMS THAT DEFINE A NATION. ISBN-10: 0670861507
Grady, Cynthia. I LAY MY STITCHES DOWN POEMS OF AMERICAN SLAVERY.