The Fourth of July has got to be one of the best days of the year. Eating corn on the cob, speeding around a lake on a boat, making s’mores by a campfire, watching fireworks, and breathing in sweet summer air on a beach or at a pool—these are just a handful of the things that come to mind for me when I think about the upcoming holiday.

Of course, we can’t forget the reason behind our celebration: the founding of our fantastic country! As we go full-speed ahead into Fourth of July festivities, I’d like to share with you the covers of a few Fall 2015 releases that help make clear why the USA is so worthy of a fete. Check out these and other books in the First Step Nonfiction Exploring Government series when they are released this fall. In the meantime, Happy Fourth!