Flying Colors: A Guide to Flags from Around the World

Readers who are intrigued by signs and symbols will find a treasure trove of information in this handbook of world flags. Miniature figures dressed in pillowy uniforms (they are “vexillogists,” individuals who study flags) serve as guides to what flag colors and symbols represent. Jacobs explores the meanings of crosses (the Dominican Republic’s flag); tribands (including the flags of Belgium, Italy, and Peru); crescent moons (the Libyan flag); suns and circles (the Indian and Japanese flags); and other design features. Snippets of world history serve to further convey how the flags came to be and what they mean: “Eritrea was annexed to Ethiopia. The Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF) fought a bloody battle against this new occupation. The star in their flag demonstrates the group’s socialist revolutionary ideals.” Jacobs’s intriguing insights are gracefully paired with Fresson’s polished digital graphics, which recall classic Tintin illustrations. Ages 6–12. (Mar.)