The Night Before the Fourth of July by Natasha Wing

The Night Before the Fourth of July

Natasha Wing, Author

Amy Wummer, Illustrator

Grosset & Dunlap, Fiction, 2015

Suitable for Ages: 3-5

Themes: Independence Day, Celebration, Fireworks, Family

Synopsis: It’s the night before the Fourth of July and all across the United States people are getting ready for hot dogs and fireworks. Decked in red, white, and blue, a family heads to a parade, hosts a backyard BBQ with friends and family, dodges an afternoon thundershower, and of course, watches a fireworks show. The Night Before the Fourth of July captures all the fun, excitement, and pride of the best summer holiday!

Natasha Wing brings all the excitement and fun to life in the pages of this celebration of our nation’s history. The rhyming is fun and playful.  Amy Wummer’s illustrations are lively and colorful. This is the perfect book to introduce young children ages 3-5, to our joyful American birthday party, emphasizing family, diversity and tradition. This is the 20th book in “The Night Before…” series. Collect them all!

Resources: What are you going to do on the Fourth of July? Will you dress-up, attend a parade, go to a family picnic, and watch fireworks? Will you wave a flag? Adults will find the book will bring back a flood of  childhood memories they can share with their children.

Natasha Wing is the author of When Jackie Saved Grand Central: The True Story of Jacqueline Kennedy’s Fight for an American Icon, 2017. She has written nearly 25 books in her “The Night Before…” series which deal with Easter, Christmas, Father’s Day, Preschool, Summer Camp, Kindergarten and many more delightful holidays and celebrations. She was born in Connecticut and now lives in Fort Collins, Colorado. After graduating from Arizona State University, she worked in advertising. It wasn’t until 1991 that she decided to write children’s books. Luckily she sold her first book within six months and has been writing children’s books and articles ever since.  Visit Natasha at her website.

Every Friday, authors and KidLit bloggers post a favorite picture book. To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books (PPB) with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s website.

About Patricia Tiltonhttps://childrensbooksheal.wordpress.comI want "Children's Books Heal" to be a resource for parents, grandparents, teachers and school counselors. My goal is to share books on a wide range of topics that have a healing impact on children who are facing challenges in their lives. If you are looking for good books on grief, autism, visual and hearing impairments, special needs, diversity, bullying, military families and social justice issues, you've come to the right place. I also share books that encourage art, imagination and creativity. I am always searching for those special gems to share with you. If you have a suggestion, please let me know.

14 thoughts on “The Night Before the Fourth of July by Natasha Wing”

  3. I’m not sure what my family and I are doing this fourth. A couple years back, we drove to the beach in our town to watch the fireworks but had to arrive in the early afternoon to get one of the few available parking spaces. The three of us arrived home sunburned but amazed by the show of lights. Last year, we stayed home and watched a fourth of July fireworks show on YouTube…DEFINITELY not as amazing as the real thing. I just popped over to my library’s web page and reserved a copy of this book. Thanks for another wonderful PPBF review.

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    • You are welcome! Hope you enjoy the fourth of July. I do know it will be a HOT one! Can see the fireworks from my porch. Also enjoy watching the NYC and D.C. Fourth of July concerts and fireworks on TV.

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    • Yes, I thought it was perfect for little ones! I remember how much I loved the fourth of July as a child. We always had a neighborhood parade and decorated our wagons which were lined up and pulled by a car — today parents would be charged with child endangerment. But it was so much fun. And the entire neighborhood held a picnic. Don’t see that anymore.

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    • I think it is perfect for little kids learning about the 4th of July! I love Natasha’s series of books about “The Night Before…” something that kids will do for the first time.

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