I host Storytime at our local public library once a month. I always look for books for holidays and seasons. Since America will be celebrating its 250th on July 4th this year, I did a search for books for younger children on this topic. I only found one at the time.
God Bless America, 250 Years Strong, written by Mark Weaver.
The illustration description says: Illustrations computer-improvised and adapted by Daniel McKenzie.
To me, this looks like AI, but I can’t really tell. They’re nice illustrations, though.
SUMMARY
A brother and sister (unnamed) go to their grandmother’s house. Grandma says they need to bake a cake for the 250th anniversary of America. While they do this, Grandma tells them short bits of history starting with people coming over from England and going through highlights of history to 9-11.
There’s a quiz, a word un-scramble, and a cake recipe in the back.
MY REVIEW
This is not a story book. The children are not named. There’s no action or dialog or description. There IS a lot of history which is short and easy for young readers to understand.
The format doesn’t change throughout the book. Illustrations on the left and words on the right.
The book covers a little of 1776. That’s more of a starting point. Then major events are told in our history, including Louis and Clark, the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, WWII, the Lunar Landing, and more.
I think it would be most interesting to the upper picture book ages, 6-8, and some older readers. It doesn’t give a lot of details about each event, so it’s easy for kids to understand.
The only problem I had with one of the stories was the one about the Civil War. It stated President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation helped “America’s army” to win the war.
I feel like this would be confusing to children since it never talked about the South seceding from the North. I think most kids think the North and South were still America.
I like having the back matter. Homeschooling families and schools will get good use out of that.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
NBC News in Charlotte, North Carolina, called Mark Weaver “one of the nation’s foremost experts in crisis communications.” As a consultant, he has advised CEOs, governors, and even a U.S. president on how to communicate more effectively. As an attorney, he has prosecuted dangerous criminals, including sex offenders, arsonists, and a serial killer. He has been interviewed by every major news outlet in the United States, and his opinion columns have appeared in prominent publications such as Newsweek, The Washington Post, and USA Today. As a spokesman for the United States Department of Justice, he honed his ability to communicate quickly, effectively, and ethically. His seminars on effective communication for business, government, and nonprofit leaders are well attended and highly regarded.
Mark is a descendant of a leader in Pennsylvania’s Underground Railroad, a Union Army veteran, and two soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War. He is also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Daniel McKenzie is a communications expert from Whakatāne, New Zealand. He has worked and volunteered for multiple churches in New Zealand and America. Raised in a Christian household with a policeman for a father, Mr. McKenzie learned the value of faith and justice. Mr. McKenzie is the Research Director for the Accountability Project Institute in Ohio.
IN CONCLUSION
God Bless America, 250 Years Strong is a nice first history of our country for young children.
- Publisher : Independently published
- Publication date : November 3, 2025
- Language : English
- Print length : 39 pages
- ISBN-13 : 979-8269179575
- Item Weight : 5 ounces
- Reading age : 5 - 11 years
**After I did a search for books about the 250th anniversary and found only this one, I did another search a few weeks later and found a few more. There are also a few activity and coloring books specifically for the 250th anniversary.
United States of America 250th Anniversary
Pam Halter is a former home-schooling mom, has been a children’s book author since 1995, a freelance children’s book editor since 2006, and was the children’s book editor for Fruitbearer Publishing until January 2023. She’s the author of Fairyeater, a YA fantasy, and the Willoughby and Friends picture book series (available on her website.) Pam has also published short stories in Ye Olde Dragon Books , the Whitstead Anthologies and Renewed Christmas Blessings. Her first short story won Readers Choice in Realmscapes.
Pam lives in Southern New Jersey with her husband, Daryl, special needs adult daughter, Anna, and four cats. When she’s not writing, Pam enjoys spending time with her grands, reading, quilting, gardening, cooking, playing the piano, Bible study, and walking long country roads where she discovers fairy homes, emerging dragons, and trees eating wood gnomes.
Very analytical review, Pam. Thanks for thoroughly reading and recommending for specific age levels.