Great illustrations and information for my students! They loved learning more about the Constitution at their level and the book felt very interactive!

Written by an author who has studied the law, this simple introductory look at the government is very helpful for children and adults who need a refresher. In a time when adults have shorter attention spans and want to quickly skim a headline, this book, though aimed at children, would be useful for all citizens to read and review as current events continue.

I highly recommend this book for schools and libraries.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebook Kids for a chance to read an early copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I find good books on civics and politics to be highly lacking for this age group, so I was very eager for the chance to read The U.S. Constitution and You by Syl Sobel. While I wouldn't hand this to most kids and say, "Have at it", I think it is an excellent conversation starter or jumping off point for educators who want to teach the constitution to children in the 7-10 age range.

Sometimes complex topics like the US Constitution and the structure of the U.S. government can feel overwhelming, and it's challenging to know where to start. Sobel has done the heavy lifting, and provides an amazing framework to pull from. He also gives language and fantastic illustrations that help make some difficult concepts more accessible.

The reason I wouldn't recommend handing The U.S. Constitution and You straight to most kids is because sometimes the writing feels a little bit like the reader is being talked down to. There are also times where some words are defined and others that should be aren't. For the most part, this book reads more like a textbook than a fun, informational selection. I'd imagine that most kids would have a lot of questions and would need to pair reading this with conversation and instruction in order have full comprehension.

I do want to say that I read this on my Kindle. Looking at the samples available, I do believe the reading experience would be much better in print.

If you're looking for a book to help you introduce your child or students the idea of the constitution and the way U.S. government is arranged, this might be a good option to have by your side.

“The U.S. Constitution and You” is a timely history of our constitution and an explanation of the parts of the constitution. It has a very good explanation about why the Articles of Confederation didn’t work. The book explores each of the articles of the constitution as well as the amendments.

Syl Sobel’s treatment of this topic is non-partisan. There is an extensive glossary and a list of additional reference material if the reader is interested. Throughout the book key terms are in bold to help guide the reader. The book explains why the constitution matters today and how you can get involved.

Classroom Considerations: “The U.S. Constitution and You” would be great for any history/social science class, grades 5-12, that explore the U.S. Constitution. Though intended for a younger audience, this would definitely work with older kids as well.

This book is great for kids (and adults) who are interested in how the U.S. Constitution was created and how it is supposed to work.

I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and Sourcebooks Kids, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book on the constitution includes background context and information on checks and balances; judiciary, legislative, and executive branches; states' powers; the bill of rights and amendments; and more. I'm excited to include it in next year's DAR/Constitution Day display.