Statue of Liberty: A Tale of Two Countries (Wonders of the World Book) - Hardcover

Mann, Elizabeth

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1931414432 ISBN 13: 9781931414432

Publisher: Mikaya Press, 2011

Synopsis

The true story of America's most beloved symbol -- a tale of art and idealism.

With her right hand she lifts a torch, the light of liberty. In her left hand she holds a book whose cover reads "JULY IV MDCCLXXVI," the date of the signing of the United States' Declaration of Independence. Under her left foot is a broken chain, a symbol of the end of slavery.

The Statue of Liberty pays homage to what is best about the United States, yet it originated in France. Living under the repressive rule of a self-proclaimed emperor, sculptors Édouard de Laboulaye and Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi wanted to show their countrymen that tyranny is not inevitable and that there is a place in the world where all citizens have "unalienable rights" that no government can take from them.

After two decades of planning, cajoling, fundraising, designing and building, these artists brought their dream of "Liberty" across the ocean. Now, 125 years after she was placed on her pedestal in New York Harbor, she continues to inspire people all over the world.

So does her story.

About this title

About the Author

Elizabeth Mann is the author of the award-winning Brooklyn Bridge, and others in the Wonders of the World series. She lives in New York and has a home in the British Virgin Islands.

Reviews

The Statue of Liberty’s history comes alive in this Wonders of the World series title. Following an overview of France and America’s relationship, Mann introduces readers to Édouard Laboulaye, who conceived the idea in 1865 to honor the countries’ friendship and America’s commitment to liberty and democracy, and sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, who made Laboulaye’s dream a reality. Throughout, Liberty’s journey—from initial sketches to fund-raising, construction, and scale challenges to the heralded 1886 New York Harbor unveiling and, ultimately, its establishment as an icon and landmark—is well conveyed through descriptively detailed text, abundant period photos, and Witschonke’s intricate color illustrations, which excel at showing the scale of the statue (men stepping their way into the statue’s enormous foot, for instance). A time line, glossary, statue measurements, index, and selected bibliography are appended. Grades 4-7. --Shelle Rosenfeld

Edition details

• Publisher: Mikaya Press
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1931414432
• ISBN 13: 9781931414432
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Witschonke Alan
• Number of pages: 48