This Is Our Constitution: Discover America with a Gold Star Father

As he did in his speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Khan interweaves sincerity, personal knowledge, and passion with an urgent message about committing oneself to justice and liberty in his first book for children. Khan’s firsthand exposure to the absence of fundamental freedoms, growing up in newly independent Pakistan, fostered his deep appreciation for the values, principles, and ideals threaded throughout the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He believes that, other than its tolerance of slavery (which he describes as an expedient but “shameful compromise”), the Constitution embodies an aspiration to human dignity that he encourages readers to defend ardently. After Khan provides historical context for the Constitution and paraphrases its sections in language geared toward his audience, the book presents the full text of both founding documents. He concludes by highlighting landmark Supreme Court decisions from 1803 to the present, entreating readers to study the Constitution and to engage in appropriate actions to preserve it. Khan’s optimism and dedication to the ideals of America’s Founding Fathers infuse this inspiring and instructive work. An adult memoir, An American Family, publishes simultaneously. Ages 10–up. (Oct.)