The Side-By-Side Constitution: An Unabridged Tour of America's Founding Document with Side-By-Side Plain-English Translations, Definitions, Historical

The Constitution shapes how our country works, though its original language can feel tough to untangle. The Side-by-Side Constitution opens the door for young readers with clear, plain-English explanations that make every article and amendment easy to follow.

The Constitution shapes everything about how the United States works, yet the original document can feel dense and tricky to understand. This book fixes that. The Side-by-Side Constitution gives young readers a clear, accessible way to read America's foundational document without spin or agenda--just the text, the context, and the story behind it.

Each spread pairs the original eighteenth-century language on the left with a plain-English explanation on the right. Readers see what the framers wrote and what it means today. Friendly illustrations, historical notes, vocabulary support, and quick facts help kids understand who was in the room, what the debates were about, and how the final words came together.

This is a balanced, trustworthy introduction designed for classrooms, libraries, and curious readers who want to understand the Constitution on its own terms.

Author: Ryan G. Van Cleave
Publisher: Bushel & Peck Books
Published: 10/06/2026
Pages: 208
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.45lbs
Size: 9.90h x 8.00w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9781638191919
Audience: Ages 9-12


Review Citation(s):
Booklist 09/01/2026

About the Author
Ryan G. Van Cleave is the author of more than 100 books for children and adults, including fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. He earned a PhD in American literature and has taught writing for more than twenty years. As The Picture Book Doctor(TM), he helps creators bring kidlit projects to life on the page, stage, and screen. He believes good stories begin with curiosity. Root beer helps, too.

David Miles is an award-winning and best-selling author and illustrator of more than forty books, including The Side-by-Side Declaration of Independence, The Interactive Constitution, Allegro, Unicorn and Horse, and other titles. He has worked as a designer, illustrator, and creative director, and he now runs Bushel & Peck Books with his wife, Stephanie. He's been named a CYBILS Award Finalist, Publishers Weekly Star Watch Nominee, Trust Changemaker, New York Book Show Award Winner, and Bill Fisher Award Finalist, among other accolades. He lives in Fresno, California, with his family.