Sacred Worth Books Highlight: Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers
Read a book about one of the United States' iconic images of hope and acceptance for the Fourth of July.
Have you ever thought about the Statue of Liberty’s right foot?
If you’re anything like me… the answer is “no”!
This book by Dave Eggers with fun illustrations by Shawn Harris will not only make you think about Lady Liberty’s right foot, but it will also give you another way to see what the Statue of Liberty represents for folks who call the United States home.
This book gives a fun history lesson on how the Statue of Liberty came to be. Filled with interesting facts told in engaging ways, kids are certain to learn something new from this story! We also learn that the Statue of Liberty is depicted as being in motion: her right foot is raised, as if she is in mid-stride. She is on the move, always in motion, always making a step forward.
The author, Dave Eggers, thinks there is meaning in this movement. Eggers said in an interview for NPR’s Here and Now, “We are an ongoing experiment in democracy and in welcome, in welcoming the oppressed, welcoming the needy, welcoming people that want a better opportunity. And the fact that [the Statue of Liberty] is on the move, I think, is perfectly symbolic of that. She’s not standing still.“ The Statue of Liberty, he reminds us in the book, is an immigrant herself, and she is a beacon to all of us to continue moving forward towards liberty for all who find a home in the United States.
As United Methodists, we acknowledge that we are called to welcome the sojourner, the immigrant, and the refugee. Throughout Scripture this call is clear (see Exodus 22:21; 23:9; Leviticus 19:34; Deuteronomy 10:19; 16:12; 24:18, 22; Matthew 25:35; Hebrews 13:2 and more). In the UMC Book of Resolutions, Resolution #3281, all United Methodist churches in the United States are urged to actively welcome immigrants, advocate for legislation that upholds the rights of all migrants, speak out against xenophobia, and take many more actionable steps towards creating a more welcoming and equitable community for all migrants. Her Right Foot reminds us that this kind of welcome and freedom for all is something we must always be moving and working towards. It highlights the Statue of Liberty as a symbol for this and her movement forward as a call to us to work for the freedom and equality of every person who finds a home in the United States.
This book is interesting, fun, educational, and inspiring. It’s a perfect book to read with the kids in your life on the Fourth of July as we think about the United States and its symbols and celebrations.
The Sacred Worth Books database includes several other books that are great Fourth-of-July reads. Check out Apple Pie Fourth of July by Janet S. Wong. In this book, a Chinese-American girl learns that multiculturalism is as American as apple pie. Or read America the Beautiful: Together We Stand by Katherine Lee Bates, in which multiple artists illustrate the lyrics to the classic patriotic song in diverse ways. A poignant read for both children and adults is America My Love, America My Heart by Daria Peoples-Riley, in which many different kinds of American kids of color wonder if they will be fully embraced by the country they call home. And another great choice for older kids is Home of the Brave by Brooke Khan, a collection of 15 short biographies of immigrants who shaped American history. Each of these books shows some different perspectives on the United States from the people that make up this nation. Hearing from different voices and seeing work by different creators helps us to see a full picture as we work towards true liberty and justice for all.
Want to find more great children’s books that represent a wide variety of diverse main characters and stories? Search our Sacred Worth Books database!
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