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Mapping Sam
Special recommendation for the Lagaz Non-literary Children's Book Award at the Bologna Book Fair, Italy First step! Everyone is asleep, where is the orange cat, Sam, going? Follow Sam's light footsteps and become a cat town chief, elegantly learn maps, traffic routes, profile diagrams, biological structures, and other most commonly used charts! Every night, when the orange cat Sam and his family fall asleep, they sneak out through the back door and embark on a one-night all-round community adventure.
Hardcover
Published January 5, 2021
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154 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
February 16, 2020
I’m a sucker for a good map book for kids!! And this one is perfect! Showing different types of maps along the story of Sam’s late night adventures and ending with an overall explanation of maps and more detail about each type shown, this is a fun book for home or a map story time.
September 23, 2019
This may get a little too complicated for the K-3rd grade crowd but just pick and choose maps used in Sam the Cat's adventures close to home as a lead up sport to kids drawing their own maps of their house/yard/neighborhood/town. Might be fun to make up treasure maps for, oh say, hidden cookies or dog treats.
November 6, 2018
A great blend of fiction and non-fiction on diagrams and maps. This would be a great way to introduce maps and diagrams concepts to elementary students. Sam the cat leads readers through the journey of the different kinds of maps and diagrams that we use.
December 8, 2018
In a world of GPS, mapping skills are endangered but here is a wonderful remedy! Sam the cat sets out on her nightly journeys and readers go along, learning about Sam, her travels and her world through maps.
Hesselberth extends the definition of maps to include diagrams and charts in an appealing introduction to the subject. Sam is quintessential cat and the illustrations are charming but also clear and understandable as is the text. Additional information about the various maps is included in the back matter.
A wonderful blend of fiction and nonfiction that will intrigue kids and hopefully spark their interest in maps and mapping.
Hesselberth extends the definition of maps to include diagrams and charts in an appealing introduction to the subject. Sam is quintessential cat and the illustrations are charming but also clear and understandable as is the text. Additional information about the various maps is included in the back matter.
A wonderful blend of fiction and nonfiction that will intrigue kids and hopefully spark their interest in maps and mapping.
October 29, 2018
What an interesting blend of fiction and nonfiction! This would be a great way to introduce maps to young students. There is also a page at the end giving a bit more detail about each type of map in the story.
Students looking for a fiction story about a cat might come away a bit disappointed. I did find it interesting to see the cat's nighttime journey around the neighborhood and follow its path on the maps.
I learned one new fact: I didn't know that blueprints are now simply called "drawings."
Students looking for a fiction story about a cat might come away a bit disappointed. I did find it interesting to see the cat's nighttime journey around the neighborhood and follow its path on the maps.
I learned one new fact: I didn't know that blueprints are now simply called "drawings."
November 3, 2018
The book offers a children-friendly age-appropriate way to learn different types of maps: map of one's body, transportation map, botanical diagram, cutaway map/chart, diagram of a water molecule, map of the world with equator, other latitudinal and longitudinal lines forming a grid, diagram of space with planets in the solar system, a constellation chart, and a blueprint of a house.
March 17, 2019
Interesting use of narrative to present curriculum around cartography, maps, and infographics. I wonder if small children will really enjoy the book, or if it's better used as a jumping off point for discussions and within classroom.
Still, really enjoyed it myself and loved the different ways it presented information.
Still, really enjoyed it myself and loved the different ways it presented information.
May 1, 2019
Age: K-2nd
STEM: Cartography
A daring subject to tackle in a picture book but Hesselberth is successful! After everyone is asleep, Sam the cat loves to explore the neighborhood. Listeners follow along through various maps and diagrams.
A simple exploration story and short text allow listeners to spend time enjoying the maps on each page.
STEM: Cartography
A daring subject to tackle in a picture book but Hesselberth is successful! After everyone is asleep, Sam the cat loves to explore the neighborhood. Listeners follow along through various maps and diagrams.
A simple exploration story and short text allow listeners to spend time enjoying the maps on each page.
November 21, 2018
Great book about the path of a cat and how maps help us everyday
April 18, 2019
Great book for introducing concept of maps or, for super young kiddos, just a fun nighttime romp with Sam the kitty!
April 30, 2023
This is a great book to help children begin to think scientifically. It started to fascinate me, even, though I don't normally think that way.
April 10, 2019
In the picture book, Mapping Sam; a mysterious and intelligent cat explores his families town as they sleep. There are many things to map; from stars, his route, the amount of water in the local pons, and how long it takes to get up to his favorite perch. Sam is a mysterious cat, and this fun, uplifting book teaches children about real life skills. There is definitions of specific took and skills through the book and a glossary in the back to review all the different types of mapping. This book would be great to use in the classroom to have and teach about graphing and mapping skills in a fun way; there is even an opportunity to talk about the solar system if you wanted to use that. I enjoyed reading this book and recommend that anyone who loves to read an educational, fun book to do so.
March 4, 2021
Maps can show us streets and subways and cities and countries. But they can also show us what we can’t see, what we can only imagine, or how to build something. In Joyce Hesselberth’s Mapping Sam, Sam the cat puts her family to bed, and then—when all is quiet—heads out to explore her neighborhood.
As Sam follows her customary path, wandering farther and farther away from home, readers encounter different kinds of maps illuminating different points of view and the various spots Sam visits. Finally, when Sam reaches her favorite place and confirms that all is well, she heads back home, climbs onto a cozy bed, and falls asleep.
As Sam follows her customary path, wandering farther and farther away from home, readers encounter different kinds of maps illuminating different points of view and the various spots Sam visits. Finally, when Sam reaches her favorite place and confirms that all is well, she heads back home, climbs onto a cozy bed, and falls asleep.
August 14, 2021
Same the cat sets off each night for an adventure, and his journey is mapped so that the reader sees a normal view and a birds eye view and representation. the book then goes on to exemplify different things to 'map' from the inside of Sam's body, to the universe and includes several diagrams that I felt misrepresented what a map is. This is addressed in the end pages which have a miniature of each map and an explanation where the term 'diagram' is used more correctly.
the illustrations are bright and Sam, a bright orange cat, is appealing as an adventurous sole. the maps provide a great starting point for some cartography and geography discussions.
the illustrations are bright and Sam, a bright orange cat, is appealing as an adventurous sole. the maps provide a great starting point for some cartography and geography discussions.
October 30, 2018
A sweet story about a family cat and what it does in the night after her family is asleep, but also a book about maps and charts and organizing information. A book that appeals to cat lovers and soft story fans, but also for anyone excited by science and how we can organize information. It includes pages with information on water molecules, and a map of the insides of a cat, and blueprints,for example, but flowery language about dreams and exploration.
January 3, 2019
More than just a story about a pet cat’s nocturnal wandering, its a look at different kinds of maps and diagrams (which are called maps and where I want to be nit picky about vocabulary) Love the explanations included in the text/illustrations, more info on the types of maps/diagrams in the back matter. Who doesn’t love the dream map illustration? Be sure to check out case cover art and the maze activity on the back cover.
June 11, 2019
A very neat book, the sort I love, non-fiction disguised as a picture book by wrapping it in a story. I might even use it in the STEAM programs I'm being forced to do, supposedly for elementary kids, but actually for preschoolers.
Unfortunately this is being cataloged here at my library as a picture book. It will get more use that way, but that mostly means it will be wrecked by toddlers too young to appreciate its content.
Unfortunately this is being cataloged here at my library as a picture book. It will get more use that way, but that mostly means it will be wrecked by toddlers too young to appreciate its content.
October 11, 2018
My library cataloged this book with the regular picture books, but I think it's more of an nonfiction picture book. Following Sam the cat on her nightly outing, we explore all kinds of maps, from street maps to anatomy maps to solar maps to blueprints (now called drawings apparently). I love the question posed near the end of the book: "Can you map a dream? You might try."
October 12, 2018
Sam the cat slips out at night to go on her outdoor adventures. Along the way, readers explore different types of maps & learn some mapmaker vocabulary. With excellent illustrations, clear text & a good page of further explanation of cartography and maps in the back, this will be one of my new go to recommendations.
October 31, 2018
Part fictional story following Sam the cat on her nightly adventures, and part nonfiction introduction to different ways to visually represent information. This book was awesome! I loved the different tables of information: maps, blueprints, cutaways, diagrams are all introduced within the story and in visually stimulating ways. I'm checking this one back out right now!
December 10, 2018
I loved this cat story/introduction to different kinds of maps! Perfect for sharing with my 6 y.o., it launched several wonderful discussions about chemistry, astronomy, anatomy, geography, etc. Best I have seen on this topic for this age group: A must for preschool and kindergarten classrooms. Highly recommended for ages 4-7.
January 22, 2019
Follow Sam the cat on her nightly wanderings around town and learn about different kinds of maps and things that maps can show.
This is a great way to introduce maps of all kinds (charts and diagrams are also included) in an entertaining way. Highly recommended for anyone who has a child curious about diagrams and maps, or for teachers introducing how to read these.
This is a great way to introduce maps of all kinds (charts and diagrams are also included) in an entertaining way. Highly recommended for anyone who has a child curious about diagrams and maps, or for teachers introducing how to read these.
May 7, 2019
Sam is a cat who explores her world after her people go to sleep. She shows us maps of her neighborhood from the street level and an aerial view from the top of a building. She also shows us her spot on the earth and in the universe. She shows us different maps as well... diagrams, scale, subway routes, molecular, blueprint, and constellations.
July 1, 2019
I’m not sure at what grade or age children are taught about maps. This book probably is geared towards kindergarteners or 1st graders, with simple text, explanations and diagrams helping to explain the different way things can be mapped.
The illustrations are simple and colorful.
There are cute endpapers and a hidden cover.
The illustrations are simple and colorful.
There are cute endpapers and a hidden cover.
August 10, 2019
STEM: Cartography
A successful picture book execution of a daring subject. After everyone is asleep, Sam the cat loves to explore the neighborhood. Listeners follow along through various maps and diagrams. A simple exploration story and short text allow listeners to spend time enjoying the maps on each page.
Reviewed by: Miss Kelsey, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
A successful picture book execution of a daring subject. After everyone is asleep, Sam the cat loves to explore the neighborhood. Listeners follow along through various maps and diagrams. A simple exploration story and short text allow listeners to spend time enjoying the maps on each page.
Reviewed by: Miss Kelsey, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
July 25, 2018
A science/engineering oriented picture book - Mapping Sam starts with a cats evening outdoor journey as a method to show different styles of mapping, diagraming & labeling - pretty cool. & Cats too.
October 18, 2018
This has been cataloged with the picture books, but I think it would be better in nonfiction because of the explanation of and how to use various maps. This is pretty neat, and using a cat's wanderings as a tool is quite creative.
October 4, 2018
nice concept, but it starts to stretch a little too much and misses the mark
March 30, 2024
Ok I didn’t plan on writing a review for a a flimsy children’s book but I’m so taken aback by some of the lower reviews. This book was FUN. My 2 year old loved tracing the maps and talking about what we could see and comparing Birds Eye view vs linear sight. Like omg the kids don’t need to “follow along with the structure”- it’s supposed to be FUN and SILLY while introducing the concept and breadth of maps. It’s not a freaking curriculum outline on how to teach children to read and dissect a map?? Maybe it’s one of those books that only a certain group of “think a different way” type kids will really appreciate, but it made my heart warm. Plus the overarching theme is an explorative pet cat. Instant win.
April 10, 2022
Sam, a cat, loves to explore. At night, she heads outside and goes out on an adventure around her neighborhood. Her expedition is mapped with great directional and mapping vocabulary (circle around, compass, scale) and even other ways we can map or chart things like a map of Sam, the parts of a plant, a pond, the globe, a building, and town. Really wonderful vocabulary building beyond even mapping (more specific part of the body like the spine, liver, ribs, skull; part of a plant, parts of the water molecule, planets). A great concept book for school age kids. I can see a teacher or librarian having an activity or art lesson involved with children creating their own maps of things.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews