The First Independence Day Celebration

By Thomas Sperling and Kathy Allen

In the United States, the Fourth of July means picnics, parades, and fireworks. But it wasn’t always so. The First Independence Day happened during a time of war. Here’s the story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
• Release date: Aug 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781666303650

Thomas Sperling

Tom Sperling was raised in DeLand, Florida, and earned his degree at St. Andrew’s College in North Carolina before moving to New York City to work as an assistant curator at the Museum of Modern Art. With his real interest in illustration, Sperling began attending The Art Student’s League where he studied under Steven Katz, a leading illustrator from the 1930s to the 1950s. His first professional works were a series of murder mystery covers for Harper Collins. He also did freelance work for children’s magazines and was twice awarded the Paul Revere Award for Graphic Excellence. Sperling's first picture book was Big Bill, a “bad dog” story for Scholastic. He has since illustrated more than fifty book. Sperling also worked extensively England and continues editorial work for a range of clients including The New York Times and CBS Television. Basically, he likes reading something and then imagining how it might look. Sperling currently splits his time between his hometown in Florida and Somerset in the UK.  

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