America the Beautiful
America's Songs
Reading Level: 2-5
Interest Level: 3
One of the most recognizable patriotic songs in the United States today, "America the Beautiful" started out as a poem inspired by the captivating scenery of the West. Written in 1893 by college professor Katharine Lee Bates, the lyrics evoke images of wheat fields, towering mountains, and skies spanning the vast country. Its melody, however, was added decades after the poem's first publication. Today, the song is used as an unofficial national anthem celebrating America's beauty and its future prospects of opportunity. This book explores the song's history, its significance, and its journey to patriotic celebration in simple and concise language. The narrative offers a variety of features including easy-to-read sheet music, sidebars, fun facts, timelines, and vivid photographs. It tells the story, engages readers, and celebrates the song's place in the patriotic canon today.
