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Only in Florida: Weird and Wonderful Facts About The Sunshine State
Only in Florida takes you to a state known for sea, sand, sun and fun by way of quickfire facts and colorful maps.
Glide by gators in the Everglades, ride rollercoasters in Orlando, and move to the music of Miami as you explore this unique and diverse state. You’ll learn why Key lime pie should never be green, how piracy landed on the coast of Florida, and how famous Floridians have changed the world.
Each of Florida’s major cities and regions is covered in this comprehensive rundown of the Sunshine State, from Tallahassee to the Treasure Coast. Plus, get a dose of Florida’s fascinating past from a history timeline , and spot your favorite Florida locales on infographic maps . Wildlife , culture , trailblazers , and the quirkier side of Florida are all spotlit on dedicated spreads—just like Florida, this book has it all!
Glide by gators in the Everglades, ride rollercoasters in Orlando, and move to the music of Miami as you explore this unique and diverse state. You’ll learn why Key lime pie should never be green, how piracy landed on the coast of Florida, and how famous Floridians have changed the world.
Each of Florida’s major cities and regions is covered in this comprehensive rundown of the Sunshine State, from Tallahassee to the Treasure Coast. Plus, get a dose of Florida’s fascinating past from a history timeline , and spot your favorite Florida locales on infographic maps . Wildlife , culture , trailblazers , and the quirkier side of Florida are all spotlit on dedicated spreads—just like Florida, this book has it all!
64 pages, Hardcover
Published March 5, 2024
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 16, 2024
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
Only in Florida is one of the recent instalments in the series by Heather Alexander, and was another interesting and enjoyable read. We've never been to the USA and would live to go one day, so we enjoy reading books about different places, states, and things to see and do.
This book gives lots of information about Florida, such as history, historical figures, nature, culture, things to do and see and much more. Each page is accompanied by some great illustrations bringing the information to life.
This would make a great book for children visiting Florida or learning about Florida or different states for geography, too.
Only in Florida is one of the recent instalments in the series by Heather Alexander, and was another interesting and enjoyable read. We've never been to the USA and would live to go one day, so we enjoy reading books about different places, states, and things to see and do.
This book gives lots of information about Florida, such as history, historical figures, nature, culture, things to do and see and much more. Each page is accompanied by some great illustrations bringing the information to life.
This would make a great book for children visiting Florida or learning about Florida or different states for geography, too.
January 6, 2024
Explore Florida and know more about it with this fun book with all the amazing illustrations and quick fun facts featuring maps alongside within!
This is one useful guidebook which will give you a very informative glimpse of the state.
Thank you, Wide Eyed Editions, for the advance reading copy.
This is one useful guidebook which will give you a very informative glimpse of the state.
Thank you, Wide Eyed Editions, for the advance reading copy.
January 8, 2024
It is always fun to find new state books, or sets for my school library. It begins with stats and facts and a nice historical timeline. Did you know Florida is the flattest state or has the most thunderstorms. There is a timeline to cover historical facts. There are pages for different parts of the state like Space Coast, Gold Coast and the Everglades. It also covers trees, animals, food, museums, festivals, sports and more. Instead of paragraphs information is set in little boxes of factoids. I’ve been to Florida many times but still found new and interesting things I didn’t know before. I can see this easily entertaining for 3rd graders and up. Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for the temporary ARC and I am leaving an honest review.
January 6, 2024
This book acts like a travel guide for Florida, enlisting all the things found in Florida and what places are worth visiting. The illustrations were colorful and vibrant. A great book to read if you want to find more information on Florida!
January 8, 2024
Lively, colorful illustrations that feature Florida's landscape and imagery. Yes, lots of orange trees and beach scenes but there is so much more to Florida. It's all there.
There's a quite comprehensive index at the end, so I won't belabor all you'll find within. But, how about a few teasers? How about Spook Hill in Lake Wales? Why is your car rolling downhill in neutral when it looks like you're going uphill? Ohh, spooky. You're never more than 60 miles from a beach when you're in Florida, so it's obvious you'll find lots of sunny, beach scenes, but leave time for the spectator sports, a visit to Ocala horse country, and, of course, Disney World. Make you wear sunscreen lotion, though, as Florida averages 237 days of sunshine per year and is not only the flattest and hottest state on average, but most humid with the most thunderstorms and lightning.
Not exactly grist for the tourist pages but it's just part of Florida. There's much, much more. Like NASA's space center, which gave rise to the adoption of the moonstone as the state gem (despite the fact they aren't natural to Florida). While some of these facts and stats may sound negative, there is much to be enjoyed and it's a popular retirement site. I liked the fact the book didn't try to ignore or play down the potential negatives, too, from the heat to the weather incidents. I lived much of my life there and enjoyed the warmth, lack of snow, and then acres of orange trees that then surrounded me. Hey, do you know how Gatorade was invented? You will after reading this book. Notable people are showcased, as is the state's history in a colorful timeline early on. The trees and flowers, oh, my, beautiful and plentiful and many are year round.
Thanks #NetGalley and #QuartoPublishingGrop - #WideEyedEditions for giving me this sneak peek at my ol' state. By sheer serendipity, my last previous review was Alaska based. This one is Florida, the state I moved to Alaska from. What are the odds? It's a magical mix of the unusual, quirky, tropical, beach, and eclectic sites you won't find everywhere. You can even watch a mermaid show! Or visit, no lie, a garbage truck museum!
There's a quite comprehensive index at the end, so I won't belabor all you'll find within. But, how about a few teasers? How about Spook Hill in Lake Wales? Why is your car rolling downhill in neutral when it looks like you're going uphill? Ohh, spooky. You're never more than 60 miles from a beach when you're in Florida, so it's obvious you'll find lots of sunny, beach scenes, but leave time for the spectator sports, a visit to Ocala horse country, and, of course, Disney World. Make you wear sunscreen lotion, though, as Florida averages 237 days of sunshine per year and is not only the flattest and hottest state on average, but most humid with the most thunderstorms and lightning.
Not exactly grist for the tourist pages but it's just part of Florida. There's much, much more. Like NASA's space center, which gave rise to the adoption of the moonstone as the state gem (despite the fact they aren't natural to Florida). While some of these facts and stats may sound negative, there is much to be enjoyed and it's a popular retirement site. I liked the fact the book didn't try to ignore or play down the potential negatives, too, from the heat to the weather incidents. I lived much of my life there and enjoyed the warmth, lack of snow, and then acres of orange trees that then surrounded me. Hey, do you know how Gatorade was invented? You will after reading this book. Notable people are showcased, as is the state's history in a colorful timeline early on. The trees and flowers, oh, my, beautiful and plentiful and many are year round.
Thanks #NetGalley and #QuartoPublishingGrop - #WideEyedEditions for giving me this sneak peek at my ol' state. By sheer serendipity, my last previous review was Alaska based. This one is Florida, the state I moved to Alaska from. What are the odds? It's a magical mix of the unusual, quirky, tropical, beach, and eclectic sites you won't find everywhere. You can even watch a mermaid show! Or visit, no lie, a garbage truck museum!
March 7, 2024
This large hardcover book has cute, colorful illustrations, and it introduces children to different regions in Florida and different things that make the state unique. There's a lot of great information in this book about the state and its diverse population, but the presentation isn't ideal. There are lots of short sentences with fun facts scattered around each page, and the facts don't always have much to do with the illustration in the background. The font is also super small, and because the statements are so brief, there is rarely any context provided for concepts that might be new to the target audience.
The selections of what to focus on feel pretty random, and some of the fun facts didn't seem particularly appealing for kids. Also, because this book just has illustrations and no photographs, kids will need their own mental images for some of the animals, places, and things that get mentioned. If all of this is new to them, they would be much better off reading a book that more closely matches the text to the illustrations, and which includes actual photographs.
Some of the fun facts were really interesting, and I learned a lot that was new to me. However, I still felt like the author's choices were kind of random. I definitely expected more about sports here, and I also thought it was really odd that the author didn't mention the retiree population in Florida, or talk about the many people from northern states who live in Florida temporarily during the winter. This book includes lots of random facts about minor things, while this major part of the state's history and culture never gets attention.
Overall, this book is more of a coffee table book than anything else. It can be a neat book to flip through, but I think it will appeal to adults more than children, especially since adults have the cultural knowledge and background to really understand and follow the scattershot facts sprinkled on every page.
I received a free copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review..
The selections of what to focus on feel pretty random, and some of the fun facts didn't seem particularly appealing for kids. Also, because this book just has illustrations and no photographs, kids will need their own mental images for some of the animals, places, and things that get mentioned. If all of this is new to them, they would be much better off reading a book that more closely matches the text to the illustrations, and which includes actual photographs.
Some of the fun facts were really interesting, and I learned a lot that was new to me. However, I still felt like the author's choices were kind of random. I definitely expected more about sports here, and I also thought it was really odd that the author didn't mention the retiree population in Florida, or talk about the many people from northern states who live in Florida temporarily during the winter. This book includes lots of random facts about minor things, while this major part of the state's history and culture never gets attention.
Overall, this book is more of a coffee table book than anything else. It can be a neat book to flip through, but I think it will appeal to adults more than children, especially since adults have the cultural knowledge and background to really understand and follow the scattershot facts sprinkled on every page.
I received a free copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review..
January 10, 2024
Only in Florida is a beautifully illustrated children’s book that focuses on the wonders found around the state of Florida.
There is a table of contents at the front and an index at the back to help readers find specific interests. When I saw the section titled “Weird, Weirder, Weirdest”, I knew I had to take a glance at that first. As someone who lives in Florida, it is nice to see a book that comments on more than just the beaches and amusement parks.
I would consider this book aimed at preschool through lower elementary aged children. It would also make a nice family read for someone planning a trip and wanting to get their kids involved.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Wide Eyed Editions!
There is a table of contents at the front and an index at the back to help readers find specific interests. When I saw the section titled “Weird, Weirder, Weirdest”, I knew I had to take a glance at that first. As someone who lives in Florida, it is nice to see a book that comments on more than just the beaches and amusement parks.
I would consider this book aimed at preschool through lower elementary aged children. It would also make a nice family read for someone planning a trip and wanting to get their kids involved.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Wide Eyed Editions!
January 8, 2024
Only in Florida by Heather Alexander is an incredibly comprehensive book filled with a wide range of information about the state of Florida alongside fun illustrations. The visually appealing presentation makes the information easy to digest, with spolights on specific locations and areas of interest around the state. The index in the back of the book was helpful for locating a particular place easily. I would recommend this book for children a bit older than my own (6 and under) because the amount of text would be overwhelming for younger children. This would be a nice gift before a family vacation to go over together or before relocating to the state.
Thanks to Quarto Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC copy to review.
Thanks to Quarto Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC copy to review.
January 16, 2024
I picked up this book because I'm from Florida, and even I didn't know all the facts and information that was in this book!
The art in here is amazing. It's skillfully drawn and rendered, and the style isn't too cartoonish, which means this book won't just appeal to kids! It does a good job to help fit in all the information, and make it more interesting than just picking up a history book about Florida.
The facts were described in fun and easy ways so that a wide age range can enjoy the book. This is perfect for someone who may need to do some research on the state, or even hype a family up for their vacation to Florida!
The art in here is amazing. It's skillfully drawn and rendered, and the style isn't too cartoonish, which means this book won't just appeal to kids! It does a good job to help fit in all the information, and make it more interesting than just picking up a history book about Florida.
The facts were described in fun and easy ways so that a wide age range can enjoy the book. This is perfect for someone who may need to do some research on the state, or even hype a family up for their vacation to Florida!
December 9, 2023
Following New York and California in other books we now get to grips with the trivia of the Sunshine State, whether that be the famous sports teams or the garbage truck museum, the saw grass or the roller-coasters. As before some spreads are devoted to certain themes, such as the nature or the historical people, while others hit on specific areas – the Gold Coast, Jacksonville, whatever. It's probably not destined for school libraries away from the US, but it's fine at doing what it does, and certainly gets four stars.
January 21, 2024
Thank you for this e-copy of Only in Florida by Heather Alexander.I shared this book with my 7 year old grandson.We learned many interesting facts about the state of Florida from the different nicknames for certain areas of Florida to the names of famous Floridians.This book has so much knowledge and fun facts that is perfect for research papers.Since I want to retire to Florida in a few years ,it also gave me knowledge on certain areas that I might want to explore.when I get there.Perfect for elementary to adult readers.
January 23, 2024
There's a lot of information about the state of Florida packed into this book, some of it odd....but all of it interesting! I think it's geared towards younger kids, but adults will find it worth reading too. Might find reading just a little bit at a time, makes it easier to absorb the info.... Fun colorful drawings accompany the text. I think it'd be a great book to have in any library!
I received a digital ARC from Quanto Publishing Group-Wide Eyed Editions via NetGalley, & in return I read it & am offering this fair & honest review.
I received a digital ARC from Quanto Publishing Group-Wide Eyed Editions via NetGalley, & in return I read it & am offering this fair & honest review.
January 26, 2024
This is a great book for kids and their adults to read if/when they are planning a Florida vacation. The illustrations throughout are quite inviting and there is also lots of information and suggestions in these pages. Just some of the topics covered are Stats & Facts, Museums & Attractions, Food, Miami, the Keys and much more.
Kids can learn lots of facts to share with others in these pages. It is a great guide.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
Kids can learn lots of facts to share with others in these pages. It is a great guide.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
February 13, 2024
Only in Florida is a fantastic book chalked full of engaging illustrations and TONS of information. Who knew that the official state dessert is strawberry shortcakes topped with whipped cream? Or that Florida is the only state in Washington, D.C. to have an Embassy? My son who was born in FL is fascinated by all things Florida, and this book did not disappoint. I look forward to adding a physical copy of this book to our collection soon.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 15, 2024
In a book that could have been put out by the Florida Tourism Bureau, Alexander highlights all the rich history and entertainment that the Sunshine State has to offer, while glossing over the racism of the past, and the current craziness engendered by "Don't Say Gay" DeSantis.
It's a fun book for kids and adults with bite-sized snippets of info scattered around Joseph Moffat-Peña's delightful illustrations. In all, an enjoyable guide to our wackiest state.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wide Eyed Editions for sharing.
It's a fun book for kids and adults with bite-sized snippets of info scattered around Joseph Moffat-Peña's delightful illustrations. In all, an enjoyable guide to our wackiest state.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wide Eyed Editions for sharing.
January 6, 2024
Okay, this was a travel book for kids, but I found it highly informative. You can learn about everything from the history of Florida, the geography, some of the most famous people, and other trivia. There is a Garbage Truck Museum! There is an ATM lane at one bank for skaters!
The pictures are great, and obviously for kids, but this would be a great book for parents to look at with their children when planning a trip to Florida.
Thanks to NetGalley for making this available to me
The pictures are great, and obviously for kids, but this would be a great book for parents to look at with their children when planning a trip to Florida.
Thanks to NetGalley for making this available to me
January 22, 2024
With wonderfully colourful illustrations Heather Alexander takes kids on an journey to the most notorious of all US states: Florida. From nature reserves to the state's rich history, there is much to be learned, discovered and marvelled at. I think this would a wonderful read for families deciding on where to take their next trip together and prepare or just a gift for curious kids who love to learn.
January 22, 2024
Only in Florida had a lot of really interesting information about Florida. The info graphics were colorful and engaging. This was a very educational experience and I learned a lot, even as an adult. I can imagine younger readers would be really captivated by this book. It could be a great resource for a report about the State of Florida for a young student.
Thank you for the eARC!
Thank you for the eARC!
February 1, 2024
This was a wonderful children's book! We have family in FL and my children love to visit and learn about the Sunshine State! The facts and art was so interesting and kid-friendly. I would definitely purchase this for my kids!
I just reviewed Only in Florida by Heather Alexander. #OnlyinFlorida #NetGalley
I just reviewed Only in Florida by Heather Alexander. #OnlyinFlorida #NetGalley
January 6, 2024
This is an adorable book with a lot of fun facts and interesting information. The illustrations are gorgeous and I will definitely be buying a copy for the kids in my life. I think this book would make an especially great gift for a child traveling to Florida for vacation or relocating.
January 7, 2024
What a beautifully illustrated book. Bright retro, idyllic, Florida imagery fills each page, after gorgeous page. The author beautifully captures the magic that is quintessentially Florida with the marriage of beautiful art and beautiful words. This book would be a wonderful gift.
January 29, 2024
I loved reading all the fun and important facts in this book! As someone that has lived in Georgia for a while, I thought I knew a lot about Florida, but this book taught me so much. I think kids will really enjoy it!
February 8, 2024
Tons of great facts and illustrations from all over the sunshine state! I grew up in Florida and lived there for 24 years, and while I am familiar with much of the state, I did learn some fun things from this book.
ARC from Netgalley.
ARC from Netgalley.
January 11, 2024
Not at all what I expected, but I loved learning and indulging in the state of Florida.
January 19, 2024
A beautifully designed book about Florida. It is probably aimed at younger children. Would have loved a bit more information in the book.
January 30, 2024
Wide eyed publications can do no wrong in my eyes. This is another stunning book with beautiful illustrations and lots of facts, definitely recommend.
March 1, 2024
I received this book from Edelweiss/publisher in exchange of an honest review.
The next book in the Only In-series and after New York, Texas, California, America, this time we are travelling to the wonderful state of Florida. Disney! Miami! Cape Canaveral! Everglades! Keys! I was so excited to be reading this new book and see what new things I would learn! If one cannot travel to the US, then books are the best outcome to travel!
Just like all the books in the series we get a map at first showing us all the important locations and after that it is time to get travelling! We are going through all of Florida and seeing all the sights! From places that everyone knows, Orlanda, Tampa, Everglades, to places I didn’t know instantly like Pensacola to Gainesville. I was eager to learn all about my favourite and known places and not so known places. What new things would I learn this time?
I want to visit that Lighthouse in the beginning, the one they said was haunted, that sounds so cool! I just wanted to sleep there for a night, haha. Plus, I learned that it is the flattest state + the hottest as well which is such a fun one. There is space stuff eep (didn’t know the area code is a hint to what happens at the launch sites) which I was looking forward to! There are horses (love love that) + my mother in law would have absolutely LOVED that butterfly collection as she loved them a lot and always eager to visit places where butterflies just flew freely. Then there are manatees, there is a garbage truck museum (sign me up, though I hope it doesn’t stink too much, haha), swamp buggy?, a festival for possums (yes please) + I am all in for the official state dessert (sounds so yummy and my body wants it now), there are wild chickens just wandering around in Ybor City (which made me laugh and I want to see that for myself), toilet seats to commemorate things (which was weird but also made me laugh) + yes Weeki Wachee (I saw a bit of a documentary on that one). And there is a lot more and I had learned a lot, laughed at times, and absolutely adored the illustrations! It was a lot of fun!
Oh, and I love that, just like in the other books, we don’t just visit places but also get specific state pages. Like there is a 2-page spread on Trees and Flowers, but also Food. And there are others! It just gave us a bit of break from all the travelling.
All in all, I need the next book and the next book, and so on. Let me travel!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
The next book in the Only In-series and after New York, Texas, California, America, this time we are travelling to the wonderful state of Florida. Disney! Miami! Cape Canaveral! Everglades! Keys! I was so excited to be reading this new book and see what new things I would learn! If one cannot travel to the US, then books are the best outcome to travel!
Just like all the books in the series we get a map at first showing us all the important locations and after that it is time to get travelling! We are going through all of Florida and seeing all the sights! From places that everyone knows, Orlanda, Tampa, Everglades, to places I didn’t know instantly like Pensacola to Gainesville. I was eager to learn all about my favourite and known places and not so known places. What new things would I learn this time?
I want to visit that Lighthouse in the beginning, the one they said was haunted, that sounds so cool! I just wanted to sleep there for a night, haha. Plus, I learned that it is the flattest state + the hottest as well which is such a fun one. There is space stuff eep (didn’t know the area code is a hint to what happens at the launch sites) which I was looking forward to! There are horses (love love that) + my mother in law would have absolutely LOVED that butterfly collection as she loved them a lot and always eager to visit places where butterflies just flew freely. Then there are manatees, there is a garbage truck museum (sign me up, though I hope it doesn’t stink too much, haha), swamp buggy?, a festival for possums (yes please) + I am all in for the official state dessert (sounds so yummy and my body wants it now), there are wild chickens just wandering around in Ybor City (which made me laugh and I want to see that for myself), toilet seats to commemorate things (which was weird but also made me laugh) + yes Weeki Wachee (I saw a bit of a documentary on that one). And there is a lot more and I had learned a lot, laughed at times, and absolutely adored the illustrations! It was a lot of fun!
Oh, and I love that, just like in the other books, we don’t just visit places but also get specific state pages. Like there is a 2-page spread on Trees and Flowers, but also Food. And there are others! It just gave us a bit of break from all the travelling.
All in all, I need the next book and the next book, and so on. Let me travel!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews