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Maps and Globes

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This comprehensive look at geography and the environment, Maps and Globes, can take you anywhere--to the top of the tallest mountain on earth or the bottom of the deepest ocean. Maps tell you about the where various countries are located, where the jungles and deserts are, even how to find your way around your own hometown. If you take a fancy to any place on earth, you can go there today and still be home in time for dinner. So open a map, spin a globe. The wide world awaits you.

Supports the Common Core State Standards

Paperback

First published September 1, 1985

16 people are currently reading
368 people want to read

About the author

Jack Knowlton

8 books2 followers

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5 stars
221 (40%)
4 stars
168 (30%)
3 stars
118 (21%)
2 stars
29 (5%)
1 star
11 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
Profile Image for Ammie.
976 reviews
September 18, 2022
Wonderful intro for my students. Used this with my daughter a few years ago and love how simply it introduces important geography concepts.
Profile Image for Jenny Hartfelder.
421 reviews10 followers
August 5, 2020
This is probably a little better suited to 3rd-4th grade than 1st grade. It was a bit long and the descriptions of all the various kinds of maps we're a bit more than we needed for a 6yo. We split the book into two days and it did help her understand the difference between globes and flat maps.

#passportaroundtheworld #1stgrade
Profile Image for Ebookwormy1.
1,830 reviews364 followers
November 21, 2013
We have been through this book several times, maybe once a year, and I think we pull a new fact out each trip. All the basic geographic concepts are covered.

From what the first maps were used for and what they looked like, through the age of exploration (features Columbus and Magellan), the differences between globes and maps, the language of maps (direction, hemisphere, longitude, latitude, meridians, parallels, equator, scales, elevation/ altitude, depths), closing with an overview of different types of maps (physical, political, local, etc.). And all this in 42 pages!

The illustrations are colorful and engaging through elementary level students, but probably too young for junior highers.

We will be holding onto this one for homeschool for years to come!
Profile Image for Margaret Chind.
3,210 reviews268 followers
October 1, 2020
This is a great little book, I enjoy it so much for my children that we also bought a Kindle eBook copy. This is a great general introduction to maps. My son (6) loves it. We read it as part of Sonlight Curriculum K 2020.
Profile Image for Emmie.
306 reviews3 followers
December 27, 2020
Maps and Globes is a good short introduction to teaching how to read maps and globes (hence the name). It is basic and easy to understand, so all of our children were able to listen and understand to some degree. It explains different keys, different types of maps and how to use the legend to read the map. As a starting point in the subject it is right on.
Profile Image for Amy.
455 reviews
September 25, 2017
Fantastic and thorough introduction to maps and globes for children. Especially appreciated the stick chart reference of Polynesian sailing charts.

We've used this two different times for homeschooling and I looked forward to finding this again at the library. It was a big hit.
Profile Image for Sandy.
1,538 reviews5 followers
January 10, 2021
A very elementary level book to help young children understand the origins and purpose of maps. Effective - colorful and concise enough to keep the attention of young kids. Can be read in one sitting or over a few.
Profile Image for Maggie Panning.
572 reviews7 followers
April 20, 2021
This is a great introduction to basic geography. It is an older book, but it is still totally applicable. It was very useful in our first grade homeschool.
Profile Image for Rosanna.
399 reviews1 follower
December 17, 2015
I loved this book. it does a great job of covering what I wanted my child to know about intro geography. unfortunately, even though I split it into two days, Zack begged me to stop. not his cup of tea. this might be better for a first grade +. he did enjoy finding everything from a legend on a map. we will stick with rookie reader geography series for our social studies for awhile. that's more the kindergarten comfort zone.
Profile Image for Tsuyu Ko.
22 reviews
April 8, 2012
This book has a lot of colors and big words, making it easy for kids to understand. On the back of the book, the label "age 7-10" tells you who are the most suitable readers. Sweet! The book starts with the history of maps and then explains how useful a globe is. Students can definitely learn a lot from this book.
Profile Image for Crystal.
52 reviews3 followers
February 18, 2013
I enjoyed this. It was a great book to put in during a Social Studies unit to link reading and SS. Easy words and pictures-- 3-4 grade reading level. I loved the illustrations to show how much better a globe is to deal with land mass compared to flat maps. I would even consider reading this as a whole class to be different than just reading from a text book.
Profile Image for Madeleine.
31 reviews15 followers
November 28, 2015
Useful as an introduction to maps and globes, but gives a skewed American-centric view of the world. It promotes the incorrect idea that north is "up" or the "top" and that south is the "bottom" of the world. If you give this to your child(ren) to read, be sure to read together and discuss the mistakes and the assumptions!
Profile Image for Laura.
320 reviews
December 3, 2009
Good introduction to kids reading and understanding globes and maps. Handy resource tool for me. It is good for grades 1 thru 5, but definitely aimed more at the younger set. We had some fun making our own maps to scale after reading this.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
926 reviews11 followers
May 3, 2020
What a wonderful little book. A great introduction to all things maps with nice simple illustrations. My daughter really enjoyed it.

My son, 5, remembered the words equator and compass rose many days after reading this book. :)
Profile Image for Kaila.
44 reviews
March 5, 2016
In my first grade class, we have an entire unit on maps and globes ! This book was the perfect read as a hook for my intro lesson. The students were able to learn many facts from this simple read aloud. I encourage all educators to used this book during social studies.
Profile Image for Paul.
20 reviews1 follower
December 23, 2008
I'm reading this as part of my in2books elementary school penpan program!
90 reviews
November 30, 2010
This is a good book to use in order to integrate Literacy and Social Studies. It talks about maps and globes which would be great for Social Studies when students are learning about these subjects.
Profile Image for Laura.
28 reviews
September 20, 2013
Great book for teaching the basics of geography: what is an atlas, how do maps use scale, lines of latitude and longitude, etc.
1,393 reviews14 followers
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December 23, 2013
AR Quiz No. 16199 EN Nonfiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: MG - BL: 5.4 - AR Pts: 0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP
Profile Image for Lolo Onda.
478 reviews4 followers
November 2, 2025
Read this with my 3rd and 4th grade class. Informative and I personally liked the illustrations but it was lacking some depth. Too simplified in some ways.
Profile Image for Elena Boteva.
123 reviews41 followers
February 7, 2014
Such a great book for younger readers. It's both educational and fun.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews

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