NEH Awards We the People Bookshelf collection to Citrus County Public Libraries

Books explore theme of "A More Perfect Union"

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded the We the People Bookshelf, a free collection of 17 classic books for young readers (K-12) to each of the five Public Libraries in the county. The Bookshelf encourages young people to read and understand great literature while exploring themes in American history.

This year’s theme, “A More Perfect Union,” invites reflection on the idea of the United States as a “union” as the 150th anniversary of the Civil War approaches. The “more perfect union” envisioned by the Founding Fathers in the Constitution was torn asunder by the war between the North and South, which began in 1861.

The books included in the “A More Perfect Union” Bookshelf are:

• Kindergarten to Grade 3: Tico and the Golden Wings by Leo Lionni; When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson by Pam Muñoz Ryan; A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution by Betsy and Giulio Maestro.
  
  
• Grades 4 to 6: César: ¡Sí, Se Puede! / Yes, We Can! by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand; Darby by Jonathon Scott Fuqua; Eagle Song by Joseph Bruchac; The Great Little Madison by Jean Fritz.
  
  
• Grades 7 to 8: Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson; Hitch by Jeanette Ingold; Lincoln Shot: A President’s Life Remembered by Barry Denenberg; Warriors Don’t Cry by Melba Beals.
  
  
• Grades 9 to 12: American Creation: Triumphs and Tragedies at the Founding of the Republic by Joseph Ellis; Carver: A Life in Poems by Marilyn Nelson; Killer Angels by Michael Shaara; Lincoln in His Own Words by Milton Melzer; Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose; The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. DuBois.

In addition to the books for young readers, the “A More Perfect Union” Bookshelf features a DVD edition of The Civil War, the award-winning documentary by Ken Burns; the companion book to The Civil War series; and Declaring Independence: The Origin and Influence of America’s Founding Document, edited by Christian Y. Dupont.

The Bookshelf is awarded through NEH’s We the People program, which supports projects that strengthen the teaching, study, and understanding of American history and culture. The Bookshelf offers libraries and local communities additional educational resources that may not otherwise be available.