"The colorful books in the Holiday & Heroes series present overviews of the origins, history, and current practices associated with specific holidays. There's no cookie-cutter approach here. DeRubertis organizes each book in a way that suits its topic, while writing clearly and using short sentences effectively. Each double-page spread includes several brief paragraphs of text and two or three well-chosen pictures, including portraits, period illustrations, and photos. Besides explaining the process and the importance of voting, Election Day lays out the gradual expansion of American voting rights through the elimination or reduction of restrictions based on religion, property holding, race, sex, national origin, and age. Emancipation Day & Juneteenth discusses the abolishment of slavery in the U.S., the observance of District of Columbia Emancipation Day, and the spread of Juneteenth celebrations from Texas to 45 other states.
After looking at historical calendars, including Native American and Roman examples, New Year's Day describes modern celebrations within Jewish, Persian, and Chinese traditions, and it concludes with American customs, such as the New Year's Eve ball drop. Women's Equality Day surveys the history of women's suffrage in the U.S., the stalled status of the Equal Rights Amendment, and the gender gap among elected officials before suggesting ways to celebrate Women's Equality Day and International Women's Day. An attractive, informative series."--Booklist.