What Is the Statue of Liberty?

Name: What Is the Statue of Liberty?
Brand: Penguin Random House
Availability: InStock
Author: Joan Holub
ISBN: 9798217350056

Author: Joan Holub, Who HQ

Series: What Was?

Narrator: Leeanna Albanese

Unabridged: 1 hr 3 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Listening Library

Published: 03/24/2026

Categories: Children's Nonfiction, History, Us History

Synopsis

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Learn how the Statue of Liberty made her way to New York Harbor in this fascinating history for young readers, part of the beloved What Was? series. The perfect way to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary!

In 1876, France decided to give the United States a very big and very special present: the Statue of Liberty! Proposed by Edouard de Laboulaye and designed by Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, the gift was to commemorate the country’s 100th birthday. But how was America’s most prominent symbol of freedom built and moved into place? What gives the statue its iconic blue-green color today? How did the French transport our 111-foot-tall lady of liberty into New York Harbor all those years ago? Young historians will find the answers to these questions and more in this detailed, easy-to-comprehend biography of the creation and history of the Statue of Liberty.

About The Author

Joan Holub is the author of What Was the First Thanksgiving?, What Was the Gold Rush?, and other Who Was...? titles, including Who Was Marco Polo? and Who Was Babe Ruth? She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Reviews

Goodreads review by M.M. on July 02, 2014

Here we are on the cusp of the United States celebration of Independence and what better symbol of our country to read about for the occasion. I was fortunate enough to get to visit this enormous statue in 1976 during the Bicentennial. Yes, I walked up the 354 steps up to the crown and got to see ou......more

Goodreads review by Readasaurus on August 13, 2019

Very cool This was really cool to read about. So much work and effort was put into creating Lady Liberty and getting it to the US.......more

Goodreads review by Joanne on February 28, 2023

Loved this one.. Quick and easy to read.. So factual about the origin of the statue. Loved it and learnt so much from this book. Lovely illustrations throughout 💕......more

Goodreads review by Bookbag_Betty on November 01, 2019

- Where Liberty Dwells, There Is My Country Liberty Enlightening The World "Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor, You're Huddled Masses Yearning To Breathe Free, The Wretched Refuse Your Teeming Shore. Send These, The Homeless, Tempest-Tost To Me, I Lift My Lamp Beside The Golden Door!" lib·er·ty: the......more