The Flag Maker by Susan Campbell Bartoletti and Claire A. Nivola

TITLE: The Flag Maker

AUTHOR: Susan Campbell Bartoletti

ILLUSTRATOR: Claire A. Nivola

PUBLISHED BY: Sandpiper, 2007

ISBN: 978-0618809110

PURCHASE: Amazon

The Flag Maker was a happy discovery in the nonfiction (American) section of our library.  While viewing the actual Star Spangled Banner that flew over Ft. McHenry (the subject of our National Anthem), which is currently housed in the Smithsonian American History Museum, author Susan Campbell Bartoletti was amazed to discover that the flag was made by a 13 year-old girl, Caroline Pickersgill, and her mother.  Bartoletti was inspired to write Caroline's story, and hence we have this lovely book which illustrates an important time in our history.

Bartoletti, a Sibert award winner, is a very fine writer of non-fiction picture books.  With few words, and well defined characters she makes present the entire town of Baltimore, and helps us relate to them and their situation through the brave little Caroline.  We see the toil as she and her mother sew the huge flag "so large that the British will have no trouble seeing it from a distance."  We see the flag, born out of six weeks hard work, flying on the horizon, as Caroline stands on top of a hill in Baltimore.  We feel the tension as all of Baltimore waits for the British to attack, trying to carry on with life, but scared and expectant.  We see the strange immediacy of the battle, which can be viewed from Baltimore's harbor.  And as dawn rises, we see the flag, unharmed, still waving bravely over the fort.

Nivola's illustrations are rich with historical detail, and have vague stylistic hints of early American painting.  My favorite touch is that she never zooms in on Ft. McHenry (which, by the way, is an awesome fort and if you live anywhere nearby, you really ought to visit), rather presents it as Baltimore would have seen it: from a distance, on the horizon, guarding the waterways leading to that important city. (See the battle scene, below.)

This books is really a treasure which presents a thrilling part of our history to a new generation, and gives us the back story on our national anthem in a charming vibrant way.