Cover Image: The Constitution Decoded

The Constitution Decoded

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Wonderfully written treatise on the origins of our government It simply and directly states what exactly our Constitution, Bill of Rights, and other important documents that everything we hold dear today what and why it was written. Yet it does not skimp on what all these documents stand for. Great reminder for adults to remember what the truth of what these documents mean as opposed to what has been assumed.
Great reference book that should be in every household.
I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for my volunteer review.

Was this review helpful?

This is a great reference for kids (and frankly, adults too) that spells out what every part of the constitution says and what it means. The original text is on one page and a clear translation on the next, interspersed with interesting facts, illustrations and more information. This is a very thorough look at every article, amendment, etc. with dates, background and further knowledge. A great resource.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

Was this review helpful?

As a PDF, this didn't translate well onto a Kindl.e. The spacing was off, there were no pictures so the captions for them made absolutely no sense, it wasn't formatted well so it was exceptionally hard to read.. I'm sure it would be lovely in physical form. I couldn't follow the PDF with the layout, so I can't really give a great review on the content or the aesthetics of it. I'm sure it's pretty good.

Was this review helpful?

A great civics book that explains the constitution in details.
I can imagine it being a great textbook for students in middle and high school.

Was this review helpful?

This book constitution is well written and a great reference resource. I’d say for ages 8+. This book is beautifully written and illustrated and it makes it easy to understand the US constitution. Thia book is especially brilliant in the UK where nothing comparable really exists.
Perfect for the classroom and library.

Was this review helpful?

This book is a good study guide for a high level government class or someone studying for American citizenship. It covers the basic concepts and vocabulary related to the constitution, as well as the key players in American history.

Was this review helpful?

An easy-to-read explanation of the Constitution for teens and tweens. Much like No Fear Shakespeare, Constitution Decoded places excerpts of the Constitution across from explanatory text. "Did You Know" and "Constitution in Action" boxes add interesting tidbits and modern applications.

The pictures are a bit kitschy but fine for young readers.

I will be purchasing a copy of this for my public library.

I received an advance digital copy of this in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

We have been studying the constitution recently in our homeschool, so this book came at the right time. I have wanted to dive deeper and get a better understanding in the details. This book is full of understandable information. Since this is an unfinished digital copy, there were blank boxes and the order was a bit confusing. The finished copy will be a wonderful resource for classrooms, homeschool families, abc any student interested in the constitution of the United States of America.

Was this review helpful?

This book will very useful to include in our Right to Vote unit in 5th grade because is is laid out with students in mind.

Was this review helpful?

The constitution decoded by Kate Kennedy is a great resource for children ages 8+. This book has made it so easy for my children and myself to understand the constitution.
The books description says:
The ultimate guide to the US Constitution—and the history of the US through the law of the land—for middle grade readers ages 8+. The book decodes the original document with a direct translation of the text, dissecting every word, phrase and idea. Then it connects the document to major historical figures and events using full-color illustrations and examples of how the document works in practice.

This would be a great book to have in every elementary school library.

Was this review helpful?

This book made it easy for my daughters to understand The Constitution. I have to confess that it helped ME an adult to understand it better.
This is a great reference book. A must in the shelf of every family with children of school age and every community library.
My high school daughter have also used this book as a reference. The illustrations are really cute, I specially love the pencil drawings.
I will get as well the paper edition to keep in our homeschooling room.

Was this review helpful?

This is a great reference book for kids! The US Constitution is not easy to understand and this book does a really good job breaking it down. I really like how it takes it piece by piece, has the exact wording and then explains in a way to understand what it is saying. I’m really looking forward to adding this to our reference books.

Thank you Workman Publishing & Netgalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

A great mentor text on the Constitution for upper elementary and middle school teachers. The translation in the first chapter is well done, with vocabulary integrated by section as well as in the glossary. The "Did You Know" boxes and "Constitution in Action" headers help to break down the complex topics on a more relatable level. I doubt a student would come to this text willingly, but I see it having an important place in U.S. History classrooms.

Was this review helpful?