Pavel and the Tree Army — Heidi Smith Hyde

Pavel is a new American, excited about his new country. When his rabbi tells him that the Civilian Conservation Corps is hiring young people, Pavel is thrilled. As a member of the Corps, a program created during the Great Depression, he learns to plant trees, build dams, and take care of the land. But not everyone in the Corps thinks Pavel belongs in America. It's not until he and his immigrant friends learn to sing the country's new national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” in time for Independence Day celebrations that they're welcomed as true Americans.