Sign-In
Cart
I Am America/We Are America
Hardcover
General Juvenile FictionHistory
Publisher Price: $30.99
Publisher: Brenda G. Stanley
Published: Jun 5 2026
Pages: 60
Weight: 1.09
Height: 0.31 Width: 8.50 Depth: 11.00
Language: English
I Am America is a powerful, child-friendly introduction to the ideas that built the United States and the civic values that continue to shape it today. Designed for classrooms, libraries, and families, this beautifully illustrated picture book helps young readers understand what America is, how it began, and why every child has a place in its ongoing story.
The book opens with the earliest chapters of America's beginnings-Indigenous peoples, early settlers seeking liberty, and the birth of a new nation grounded in the belief that people can govern themselves. But I Am America quickly moves beyond history to explore the living principles that guide our democracy. Through clear, engaging language and the voices of children, readers learn about democracy, voting, justice, freedom, liberty, unity, peace, and the pursuit of happiness.
At its heart, I Am America teaches that citizenship is not just a status-it is a shared responsibility. Children discover how laws are made, why their voices matter, and how communities work together to build a nation that reflects its highest ideals. The book emphasizes belonging not as a cultural category, but as a civic promise: America is strongest when every child knows they are part of its future.
I Am America is an elementary-level civics text that introduces young learners to the core principles, structures, and responsibilities of American democracy. Through clear language and child-centered narration, the book supports early social studies standards by helping students understand how the United States began, how its government works, and what it means to participate in a democratic society.
Aligned with K-5 civics frameworks, the book covers:
Foundations of the NationChildren learn about the earliest peoples on the continent, the arrival of settlers seeking liberty, and the formation of a new nation built on self-governance. These historical touchpoints provide context for understanding why America's civic principles were created.
Core Democratic IdealsThe book introduces essential concepts found in state and national standards, including democracy, liberty, justice, freedom, equality, unity, and the pursuit of happiness. Each idea is explained in accessible language that helps students connect values to real-world civic behavior.
Civic Participation & ResponsibilitiesStudents explore how laws are made, why voting matters, and how communities work together to solve problems. The book reinforces the idea that every person has a role in strengthening the nation and supports standards related to citizenship and civic responsibility.
Government StructureThrough simple explanations, children are introduced to the three branches of government, the purpose of laws, and the idea that power in the United States comes from the people. These concepts align with early government-structure benchmarks.
Belonging & National IdentityThe book emphasizes that belonging is a civic promise, not a cultural label. Every child-regardless of background-has a place in America's story and a voice in its future. This supports social-emotional learning and identity standards tied to community and citizenship.
Literacy IntegrationThe poem The Garden of Us serves as a literacy anchor, reinforcing themes of stewardship, growth, and shared responsibility. It can be used for close reading, thematic analysis, and cross-curricular civics discussions.
1 different editions
Also available
Also from
Stanley, Brenda Gale
Also in
History
I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941 (I Survived Graphic Novel #14): Volume 14
Tarshis, Lauren
Paperback
I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941 (I Survived Graphic Novel #14): Volume 14
Tarshis, Lauren
Hardcover
Mystery in Rocky Mountain National Park: A Mystery Adventure in the National Parks
Johnson, Aaron
Paperback
I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 (I Survived Graphic Novel #8): Volume 8
Tarshis, Lauren
Paperback
I Survived the Japanese Tsunami, 2011 (I Survived Graphic Novel #12): Volume 12
Tarshis, Lauren
Paperback
I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79 (I Survived Graphic Novel #10): Volume 10
Tarshis, Lauren
Paperback
I Survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919 (I Survived Graphic Novel #11): Volume 11
Tarshis, Lauren
Paperback
Discovery in Great Sand Dunes National Park: A Mystery Adventure in the National Parks
Johnson, Aaron
Paperback
The Circus Ship: (A Rhyming Adventure of Circus Animals Finding a New Home - For Preschoolers, Kindergarteners, and 1st-3rd Graders Ages 4-8)
Van Dusen, Chris
Hardcover
The Secret Garden: Special Edition with Tasha Tudor Art and Bonus Materials
Burnett, Frances Hodgson
Paperback
Asian Folktales for Children: Traditional Tales from Japan, Korea, China, India, the Philippines and Other Asian Lands
Conger, David
Romulo, Liana
Hardcover
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear (Caldecott Medal Winner)
Mattick, Lindsay
Hardcover
I Survived the Japanese Tsunami, 2011 (I Survived Graphic Novel #12): Volume 12
Tarshis, Lauren
Hardcover