Happy Birthday, America

Mary Pope Osborne. Roaring Brook Press, $15.95 (32pp) ISBN 978-0-7613-1675-6

Mary Pope Osborne (the Magic Tree House series) joins in a family's small-town Fourth of July celebration in Happy Birthday, America, illus. by Peter Catalanotto. Thickly applied watercolors depict the festivities, including a pet parade, picnic, concert and fireworks. An author's note details the origins of Independence Day traditions.

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