About this item
Francis Scott Key wrote the poem that became our country's national anthem in celebration of America's surprise victory over Britain in the War of 1812. It was sung for more than a century before it became our country's official national anthem in 1931. Using primary sources, young readers hear the story behind how the poem became a song and then a national anthem that is sung to this day. Engaging text, colorful photos, sidebars and a variety of primary sources introduce readers to the Star Spangled Banner.
About the Author
I think I knew I wanted to be a writer since I was a little girl. I loved reading and writing, and always felt I expressed myself best on paper. (On the other hand, I ran screaming into the night if I faced a math problem.) I graduated from college with the intention of becoming an English teacher, but life had other plans in store for me.I met my future husband and ended up moving to a different city, and then, becoming mother to one, two, three, and then four children. I wanted to stay at home with them while they were little, so I began writing. At first, it was for free--local newspapers and those freebies magazines you were given in the grocery stores. I slowly built up my credentials--and my experience. In 1990, I wrote my first educational children's book. I was hooked! I loved researching, I loved kids, I loved writing--it was the perfect direction for me. Now, more than 27 years later, I've been fortunate enough to write hundreds of books. I have written about amazing people, incredible places, and astounding history. I learn every single day and do a lot of it in my PJs, or a pair of shorts, a tank top, and flip-flops. Best of all, I was able to stay home with my kids. Now they are all adults, but I'm still writing. I plan to do so until my fingers just won't manage on the keyboard anymore. (Hopefully, by then, they will have invented a virtual keyboard to use.) I welcome questions, comments, and contact from people who have read my books. In my "spare time", I am a letter writer, camper, reader, and hoarder of all things paper. Between my soulmate husband, my four wonderful kids, and my fulfilling career, I am one of the luckiest people in the world.PLEASE NOTE: I have over 400 titles on Amazon, but this site, for some reason, refuses to list many of them. If you want a full list, look up my name instead. (Tamra Orr)
