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Filled with a magnificent full page illustration for each letter of the alphabet, An American ABC was a Caldecott Honor Book in 1942 (the Petershams won the Caldecott Medal for 1945's The Rooster Crows). With the war roiling in Europe and native patriotism at a high, the book celebrates landmarks in American history and important figures as well as aspects of US national ideals: F is for Freedom, I is for Independence, Z is for Zeal and so on. A first edition in Fine condition in a VG dj with small chips at the head and tail of the spine and wear at the front folds.