Long May She Wave: The True Story of Caroline Pickersgill and Her Star-Spangled Creation

Debut author Fulton delves into the life of a young seamstress who helped create the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key’s “Defense of Fort M’Henry,” which became the national anthem. In 1812, when America went to war with the British, Caroline Pickersgill and a houseful of women began sewing a banner large enough for the British to see “from miles away.” A red, white, and blue motif flows through Berry’s (A Passion for Elephants) collaged block print artwork, creating bold, if somewhat static, scenes. Fulton incorporates passages from “The Star-Spangled Banner” throughout, albeit in a somewhat forced manner (“Each explosion gave enough light for Caroline to see, through the night, that the flag was still there”). An author’s note adds welcome context. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Kendra Marcus, Bookstop Literary. Illustrator’s agency: Studio Goodwin Sturges. (May)