We Are America: A Tribute From the Heart

Written by Walter Dean Myers

Narrated by MacLeod Andrews, Dion Graham and Multiple Narrators

What is it to be an American? In lyrical, soul-searching free verse and seamless, evocative paintings, the father-son team who presented Jazz, delivers a heartfelt and thought-provoking homage to this country. Reflective and non-judgmental, stretching across a tumultuous history, following dreams of and struggles for freedom, this is a masterful and stunning presentation of patriotism through poetry, quotations and depictions of myriad Americans—from Tecumseh to Abraham Lincoln to Jimi Hendrix—and the heart and soul of this land.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Live Oak Media
• Release date: Jan 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781430115519

Walter Dean Myers

Walter Dean Myers was the New York Times bestselling author of Monster, the winner of the first Michael L. Printz Award; a former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature; and an inaugural NYC Literary Honoree. Myers received every single major award in the field of children's literature. He was the author of two Newbery Honor Books and six Coretta Scott King Awardees. He was the recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults, a three-time National Book Award Finalist, as well as the first-ever recipient of the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Reviews for We Are America

[tierneyc-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

We Are America: A Tribute From the Heart. By Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers. Collins / HarperCollins. 2011. 38 pages. $16.99 hbk. 978-0060523091. Grades 3-9.A mere review cannot do justice the Myers father and son duo’s rich, unapologetic, moving take on the USA’s triumphs and failures throughout its past and present. The poem is direct and powerful, as are the vibrant, evocative illustrations of the many races, ethnicities, and identities of the American people: the images’ seamless juxtaposition on each page of vignettes from a range of time periods (such the pairing of the Boston tea party ands a civil rights protest fraught with police brutality) amplifies the poem’s message and showcases the contradictions inherent to American ideals. We Are America is a detailed, carefully-crafted experience, whose intricacies allow readers of various ages to absorb as much as they can handle: with younger readers, the work will require explanation of past happenings and frank discussion with a trusted adult; for older readers, more exploration of history may be necessary and further conversation, with peers or an adult, will be crucial. Quotes from famous American figures are embedded throughout to shine light on others’ notions of America – these are explained at the back, where a page-by-page “who’s who” of the illustrations of famous figures is also supplied. This realistic take on America’s past and present offers an important, honest perspective for children, who are so often given a white-washed vision of American history and America today, and still leaves room for faith in the force of individual. The work’s unapologetic vision of its subject may make it seem too advanced for children, but, coupled with developmentally-appropriate adult explanation, this stunning poem should be required reading for young Americans.

[jcarroll12 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A beautiful poetic picture book detailing the beginnings of America, its successes and failures, and a great hope for the future. The illustrations showcase many significant American figures such as Columbus, the Statue of Liberty, MLK Jr., Mark Twain, Albert Einstein, etc. and also challenge the white perspective/single story often presented in history textbooks. The poems are beautifully written and include great examples of imagery and paradox. Having many different voices serve as speakers of the poems and supplementing these words with quotes from important American documents and literary works, readers can gain a better understanding of who America actually is. Would be fabulous to share at the end (or beginning) of a study of American literature - the book supports how literature captures the history an Dream of America.

[aleigh_davis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A powerfully moving book, from beginning to end. Using Walt Whitman’s LEAVES OF GRASS and breathtaking painting illustrations, this book does a tremendous job engulfing the reader in the nonfiction history told. Although it would be more suitable for older elementary audiences due to the lyrical style of the text, it could easily be shared aloud and discussed together with younger children as a history piece.

[lauramcqueen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow is all I can say. I had chills the entire time I read this free verse book. The words were so powerful and made me feel so proud. They evoked so many emotions and they were just words on pages. I loved this book. I loved the illustrations they were amazing as well. This book defines what it is to be American with out sugar coating some of the bad things we have done and or endured. This is an amazing book I can not recommend it enough.

[sullywriter_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A beautiful collection of poetic and visual meditations.

[jenpark_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was written by Walter Dean Meyers and illustrated by his son. The poems and paintings try to explore what it is to be American- now, in the past and in the future. This is not a child's picture book.The poems and pictures are wonderful, especially if you read the information at the beginning of the book and at the end. I would say it would be good for 10th graders.