Description The French came up with the idea of The Statue of Liberty but, in the end, it was paid for by both the Americans and the French. Its torch and the Emma Lazarus poem saying "give us your tired, your poor..." have become symbolic of liberty everwhere. Using primary sources, young readers hear the story behind how the statue was built and came to be moved to its spot in New York Harbor. Engaging text, colorful photos, sidebars and a variety of primary sources introduce readers to the Statue of Liberty.