New Patriotic Children’s Book Teaches U.S. Flag Etiquette

Sept. 30, 2010 - PRLog -- A new patriotic children’s picture book that teaches U.S.  flag etiquette has hit bookshelves just in time for Columbus Day and Veteran’s Day. The Flag Keeper, written by mystery author Stacy Juba and illustrated by Larry Drumtra, is now available through online booksellers. To celebrate, CSN Stores, which is comprised of over 200 specialized online stores that offer a wide variety of home goods from dinnerware, to dog beds, to sofas and suitcases, will give away a $50 gift certificate on Juba’s blog, http://www.stacyjuba.com/blog
during Columbus Day Weekend.  

The Flag Keeper is designed to teach children about U.S. flag etiquette through an educational fiction story. Elizabeth the bear wakes up the American flag in the morning and puts it to bed at night. She acts as her father’s “flag keeper,” helping him with his daily tasks of raising the flag and retiring it for the evening. She soaks up the etiquette facts that Dad teaches her, including don’t leave the flag out in the dark without a spotlight. When Dad leaves for a business trip, it frustrates Elizabeth that their flag will be stuck in a boring garage. Every flag she sees reminds her of her job as flag keeper, and Elizabeth grows determined to make her father proud.

The book features discussion questions, flag facts, and an activity. The Flag Keeper is ideal for military families, Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, teachers, librarians, and anyone who wishes to teach a special child about American flag etiquette. It can be used as a complement to patriotic holidays such as Columbus Day, Veterans’ Day, Flag Day and the Fourth of July.

The book has received back cover endorsements from Steve Van Buskirk, Director of Programs, VFW National Headquarters, and Mike Buss, Deputy Director, Americanism, American Legion National Headquarters.

“In my capacity with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, I see dozens of patriotic publications each year,” said Van Buskirk. “The Flag Keeper is unique in its approach to younger children. While it deals with important and somewhat detailed information, it does so in a clear and simple way that children can understand and even personalize. Complex issues such as patriotism, personal responsibility, honor and faithfulness are presented easily, graphically and with a sweetness and gentleness that belies the weight of these issues. I would encourage all true patriots with children to purchase a copy to start their 'little patriots' off on the right foot.”

Buss called the book, “A wonderful story about Elizabeth, who through life's day-to-day adventures learns how to care for and display the flag. An excellent read!"

Juba’s adult mystery novel Twenty-Five Years Ago Today is currently available in trade paperback and multiple e-book formats, and her second mystery novel Sink or Swim will be released in January 2011. This is Drumtra’s first published book. More information, including a lively patriotic book trailer video, can be found at http://www.stacyjuba.com/flagkeeper.

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I am the author of mystery novels including Twenty-Five Years Ago Today and Sink or Swim, as well as the patriotic children's picture book The Flag Keeper. I'm also a former award-winning newspaper reporter. More information is available on my web sites http://www.stacyjuba.com, http://www.stacyjuba.com/flagkeeper and http://www.stacyjuba.com/blog.