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This Is Our Constitution: Discover America with a Gold Star Father
Author:
Khan, Khizr
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Class:
342.73
Age: 10-14
Language: English
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LC: KF4541
Grade: 5-9
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ISBN-13: 9781524770914
LCCN: 2017297158
Imprint: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publisher: Random House
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Pub Date: 10/24/2017
Availability: Out of Stock Indefinitely
List: $16.99
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Hardcover
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Physical Description:
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216 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
H 8.63",
W 5.81",
D 0.79",
0.75 lbs.
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LC Series:
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Brodart Sources:
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Brodart's For Youth Interest: Popular
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Bibliographies:
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Middle and Junior High Core Collection, 14th ed.
Middle and Junior High Core Collection, 15th ed.
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Awards:
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Horn Book Guide Titles, Rated 1 - 4
Teachers' Choices Reading List
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Starred Reviews:
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TIPS Subjects:
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Political Science
History, American (General)
Social Life and Customs
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BISAC Subjects: |
JUVENILE NONFICTION / Social Science / Politics & Government
JUVENILE NONFICTION / History / United States / General
JUVENILE NONFICTION / Social Topics / Emigration & Immigration
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LC Subjects:
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Constitutional amendments, Juvenile literature
Constitutional history
Constitutional history, United States, Juvenile literature
Constitutional law
Constitutional law, United States, Juvenile literature
Khan, Khizr,, 1950-
United States
United States, Constitution, Juvenile literature
United States, History, Juvenile literature
United States, Politics and government, 1783-1789
United States., Constitutional Convention, (1787), Juvenile literature
United States., Juvenile literature
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SEARS Subjects: |
Immigration and emigration
Politics and government
United States, History
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Reading Programs: |
Accelerated Reader Level:
8.9
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Points: 7.0
Lexile Level:
1190
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| Annotations |
| ONIX annotations | 10/30/2018 |
| From Gold Star father and beloved Democratic National Convention speaker Khizr Khan comes a book for young people about the Constitution-what it says and why it matters for everyone.
Our Founding Fathers created the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights as a blueprint for American government and the rights of American citizens. This document is not merely a piece of parchment but a living, breathing promise of our deepest democratic values.
Khizr Khan grew up in Pakistan, with few of the fundamental rights that are enshrined in the Constitution. He immigrated to America and became a citizen, raising his family to appreciate and honor all our nation has to offer. Khizr Khan is deeply passionate about the Constitution: the guarantees and protections it provides for each and every person and the beacon of light it shines throughout the world.
This Is Our Constitution is a personal journey that Khizr Khan is taking with our nation's young people.
The book includes:
* A highly personal introduction and conclusion
* Notes throughout that share Khizr Khan's reflections on and connections to the U.S. Constitution
* The fascinating history of why and how the Constitution was written
*Article by article and section by section, an easy-to-follow explanation of what the Constitution means
* A closer look at key amendments, including the Bill of Rights, and pivotal Supreme Court decisions
* The complete texts of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution
This is a book about why the Constitution matters to you, and us all. |
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| Journal Reviews |
| Horn Book | 03/01/2018 |
| Intermediate, Middle School. This clearly written, straightforward study of the U.S. Constitution, written by Pakistan-born Khan (who spoke passionately at the 2016 Democratic National Convention about our most formative document, which he carries in his pocket), is addressed to young people as "the custodians of the Constitution, and of our country's values and future." After a brief look at the origins of the Constitution, he launches right into his favorite two sections--the First and Fourteenth amendments. Chapter three offers a version of the Constitution written in current everyday English, and chapter five provides the full original text of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Khan's personal voice, plus an abundance of sidebars, speech bubbles, black-and-white photographs, and diagrams, makes what could have been just another dry text interesting and readable. Though his enthusiasm for American democratic ideals is infectious, Khan doesn't completely overlook the more egregious parts of our history, such as the "shameful compromise" over slavery in the Constitution, the Dred Scott decision of 1857, and Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896. Back matter includes a plea to young people--indeed, all people--to be ready to take a stand for the Constitution and a valuable guide to landmark Supreme Court decisions. dean schneider. 216pg. THE HORN BOOK, c2018. |
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| Horn Book Guide | 11/15/2018 |
| 2. 4-6. This clearly written, straightforward study of the Constitution is written by Pakistan-born Khan, who spoke passionately at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Khan's personal voice, plus an abundance of sidebars, speech bubbles, black-and-white photographs, and diagrams, is interesting and readable. Back matter includes a plea to young people to take a stand for the Constitution and a valuable guide to landmark Supreme Court decisions. Ind. ds. 216 pg. THE HORN BOOK, c2018. |
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| Kirkus Reviews | 10/15/2017 |
| An immigrant's-eye view of the Constitution's importance, featuring a transcription of the document into simpler, modern language. Addressing young readers with a reference to the preamble--"You are the posterity for whom they gathered in Philadelphia"--the Pakistan-born author opens with eloquent praise for the mix of idealism and practicality that permeates both the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence and has made the Constitution "America's beating heart." Along with including the complete texts of both (the Declaration's "merciless Indian Savages" and all), he goes on to describe the former's composition, including the "shameful compromise" on slavery, and to explain the resulting structure of our federal government (including the press as an unofficial "fourth branch"). He also offers a less-formal rendition of the Constitution's articles and amendments ("ensure domestic tranquility" becomes "ensure peace within our borders") and highlights 13 landmark Supreme Court decisions related to federal powers and personal rights. If he neglects to mention that among the Founding Fathers Thomas Jefferson too was a slaveholder or gives short shrift to American immigration law's checkered (to say the least) history, still he makes a sturdy case for understanding those powers and rights and appreciating their value. Frequent personal asides underline the message, as do his closing suggestions for becoming and remaining politically active and aware. An optimistic picture of our progress toward promoting a more perfect union, with an essential tool kit for every current or prospective citizen. (index) (Nonfiction. 11-14). 224pg. KIRKUS MEDIA LLC, c2017. |
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| Publishers Weekly | 10/09/2017 |
| Ages 10-up. As he did in his speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Khan interweaves sincerity, personal knowledge, and passion with an urgent message about committing oneself to justice and liberty in his first book for children. Khan's firsthand exposure to the absence of fundamental freedoms, growing up in newly independent Pakistan, fostered his deep appreciation for the values, principles, and ideals threaded throughout the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He believes that, other than its tolerance of slavery (which he describes as an expedient but "shameful compromise"), the Constitution embodies an aspiration to human dignity that he encourages readers to defend ardently. After Khan provides historical context for the Constitution and paraphrases its sections in language geared toward his audience, the book presents the full text of both founding documents. He concludes by highlighting landmark Supreme Court decisions from 1803 to the present, entreating readers to study the Constitution and to engage in appropriate actions to preserve it. Khan's optimism and dedication to the ideals of America's Founding Fathers infuse this inspiring and instructive work. An adult memoir, An American Family, publishes simultaneously. (Oct.). 224p. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, c2017. |
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| School Library Journal | 12/01/2017 |
| Gr 6 Up. The most important legal document for the United States is given a comprehensive introduction by an author who has cause to truly appreciate it. Khan, a lawyer and Gold Star father, first came to national prominence as a speaker at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. In this book, he adds to his introduction and analysis of each article and amendment of the Constitution the perspective of someone who maintains a deep appreciation of the United States. He opens by looking at the structure of the U.S. government and the system of checks and balances built in by the Founding Fathers, before looking at why the Constitution was needed, and then at its parts. The full text of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution then follows. Several landmark Supreme Court cases that hinged upon constitutional issues, such as Marbury v. Madison and Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, are used to illustrate that the Constitution is a living document. VERDICT This is a timely look at the structure of the U.S. government and a key addition to nonfiction collections. Betsy Fraser, Calgary Public Library, Canada. 224p. SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2017. |
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9781524770914,dl.it[0].title
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