America First : One Hundred Stories from Our Own History

This collection of illustrated short and true children's stories are taken from the vivid and eventful history of the United States of America.

A classic compendium of stories taken from more than 500 years of American history, all are written in a style perfect for children aged between six and ten. The stories begin with the era in which America was colonized, where the newfound colonies and those making the journey fended against pirates and the perils of an uncharted land. This is followed by stories of the Puritan settlers and the trials of the Salem witches.

The stories from the time the United States gained independence are expertly retold; the ride of Paul Revere, the heroism of George Washington, and the various adventures of the war are recounted. We also hear of the scientific genius of the Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, and the creation of America's flag; the Star-Spangled Banner.

These stories are followed by many of the classics of the Old West era; the westward expansion of the United States saw many events and heroes - the tale of the Alamo, the California Gold Rush, and the arrival of the railroad and electric telegraph all feature. We also hear about the American Civil War; the lives of President Abraham Lincoln and army generals such as Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee.

The concluding stories focus on the early 20th century; the dastardly sinking of the Lusitania and the avionic exploits of Frank Luke Jr. are told. All in all, we have in this book a brilliant and thorough account of American history for children that wholly merits being termed a 'classic collection'.

Milo Winter (1888 - 1956) was a well-known book illustrator who produced images for many fine children's books, including "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass" (1916), "Gulliver's Travels" (1912), "Tanglewood Tales" (1913) and "Treasure Island" (1916).