Fireworks by Matthew Burgess is a gorgeous picture book for July 4th storytime in the library! Two children enjoy a hot Fourth of July in New York City. During the day, they dance in the park, eat watermelon, and play in a broken fire hydrant.
That night, they climb to the roof of their apartment building to watch fireworks light up the sky.
Author: Matthew Burgess
Illustrator: Cátia Chien
Genre: picture book, holidays
Setting: July 4th in the USA; landmarks indicate New York City, New York, USA
Themes: patriotism, US holidays, Independence Day, July 4, fireworks, summer, traditions
Protagonist: two young siblings, both with brown skin and dark hair
Recommended for: PreS-Grade 3
Starred reviews: Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, BCCB, Hornbook, and SLJ
This colorful picture book is excellent for Independence Day read-alouds!
The story features two young children who appear to live together in the same family (they are eating breakfast together, and both have brown skin and dark hair). Throughout the day, they run free in the city, which based on the landmarks in the background, appears to be New York City.
After breakfast, the children dance in the city park, listen to salsa music, play in a broken fire hydrant, and eat cold watermelon. Then at night, they climb to the top of their apartment building and watch fireworks from the rooftop.
I love how free the kids are during the day! If adults are around to supervise the kids’ adventures, they are not pictured in the illustrations. At home, a older adult (grandparent?) cooks breakfast, gives the children a bath at night, and gets them ready for bed. But during the day, the kids are joyfully FREE.
The illustrations are brightly-colored and happy. Several pages dedicated to fireworks are bright neon colors against a black background. And don’t miss a small surprise for the fireworks finale – a double-page foldout!
The two children have brown skin and dark hair. Their adult caretaker, possibly a grandparent, has brown skin and white hair.
