We Are America: A Tribute from the Heart

 We Are America: A Tribute from the Heart: Myers, Walter Dean, Myers, Christopher: 9780060523107: Amazon.com: Books

Bibliography

Myers, Walter Dean. 2011. WE ARE AMERICA: A TRIBUTE FROM THE HEART. Ill. by Christopher Myers. New York: HarperCollins Children’s Books. ISBN 9780060523084

Plot Summary

In We Are America: A Tribute from the Heart, Walter Dean Myers celebrates the beauty and complexity of America through poetry. Each poem honors the people, history, and spirit that make up the country. From its triumphs to its hardships. Myer’s poems speak about freedom, struggle, pride, and diversity, reminding readers that America’s story has always belonged to everyone. The stunning illustrations by his son, Christopher Myers, pair perfectly with the text, showing faces and moments that reflect the country’s many voices and experiences.

Critical Analysis

Walter Dean Myers writes with such honesty and reverence that readers can feel the weight of each word. His poetry doesn’t just celebrate America, but it also invites reflection. The poems recognize both the country’s beauty and its flaws, and that honesty makes this book so powerful. His use of rhythm and repetition gives each page a sense of pride and movement, as if the poems themselves are marching through history. 

What really stands out is the collaboration between Walter and Christopher Myers. The father’s words and the son’s artwork create something that feels alive. The illustrations look like murals, full of color, energy, and emotion. They add depth to the poems, showing people of different races, cultures, and backgrounds all woven together into the American Story.

Review Excerpts

Starred Review from Kirkus: “The Myers team shares their heartfelt and stirring vision of an America flawed but filled with promises and dreams”

Connections

We Are America is a great book to share when teaching identity, diversity, and community. It opens up space for students to think about what America means to them. In class, students could create their own “We are…” poems or artwork that celebrate who they are and where they come from. 



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