Betsy Ross and the U.S. Flag: Separating Fact from Fiction(Fact vs. Fiction in U.S. History)

Betsy Ross made many flags during the American Revolution, but did she sew the first flag? Infographics, leveled text, and primary sources help readers follow the fact and fiction found in this tale of stars and stripes.

About the Author :
Danielle Smith-Llera grew up in coastal Virginia, hearing unforgettable tales about her Mexican and Irish ancestors. She first moved overseas to teach in international schools in Hungary and Brazil. Life in the U.S. Foreign Service has taken her around the world to live in India, Jamaica, Romania, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Washington, DC. She loves sharing stories--fiction, nonfiction, and a mixture of both--in classrooms, museum exhibits, and, of course, books.

Review :
Americans love their myths. However, contrary to what many may think, Abner Doubleday did not invent baseball. There's no proof that Betsy Ross sewed the first flag. Abraham Lincoln wasn't the main speaker at Gettysburg. These are all part of the myths of U.S. history, explain the books in this series. Each compelling story is heavily illustrated with photos showing period settings set among large type. The language is age appropriate and chatty. This series is great for report writers, especially those who dare to expose ingrained myths. VERDICT Myth-dispelling can be an interesting way to look at history. These titles are solid choices for school and public libraries.--Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI "School Library Journal" The Fact vs. Fiction in U.S. History series looks at frequently repeated but dubious information about our nation's past. Each volume considers one topic, reviewing the origins of questionable stories, the elements challenged by historical records, and their pathways into the history books. Concise, engaging, and logical, the writing shows that primary sources might support one part of a story while discrediting others. In Abner Doubleday, Yomtov builds a strong case that Doubleday did not invent the game and refutes the validity of a document claiming that he did. Abraham Lincoln relies on primary sources to refute several unreliable stories, including the myth that Lincoln wrote his speech while travelling by train to the cemetery's dedication ceremony. After presenting evidence on both sides, Betsy Ross makes a strong case that anecdotes about Ross represent an embroidered family story that made its way into the history books. Paul Revere looks at how Longfellow's dramatic poem made Revere an American hero, while clouding our collective memory of actual events that night. The books' illustrations include color photos of sites and reproductions of period portraits, paintings, and prints. Back matter pairs specific, commonly believed fictions with related, verifiable facts. While separating fact from fiction, this enjoyable series encourages clear thinking when examining the origins of historical information.--Carolyn Phelan "Booklist"