Children's Books discussion

This month, participants can read books about geography--that could include any books about how maps are made; or books about geographical features such as mountains, rivers, or other features; or just general introductions to the topic of geography.

I am not actually going to read The Concise Geography Encyclopedia from cover to cover or post an official Goodreads review (as the book is huge and the writing is rather dry and very textbook like). But there seems to be a lot of information and detail presented and The Concise Geography Encyclopedia would definitely be a good introduction to world geography for anyone above the age of twelve or so.

Around the World in 100 Years

Although from a general and all encompassing reading pleasure point of view, I should probably be rating Jean Fritz' Around the World in a Hundred Years with a high three stars (as while I very much both personally and intellectually have enjoyed and appreciated Jean Fritz' text and her general philosophy regarding the so-called Age of Exploration, I really have not aesthetically found Anthony Bacon Venti's accompanying illustrations all that visually pleasing and as such potentially distracting from the presented narrative), considering that especially on Amazon, Around the World in a Hundred Years features a very disproportionate and large number of not only negative reviews but also a goodly amount of what I would consider rather raging tirades accusing author Jean Fritz of being hateful and biased against ALL Christians, I will be rating Around the World in a Hundred Years with a high and deserving four stars.

And to those readers who do find or who have found Around the World in a Hundred Years as being anti-Christian and bigoted, I will point out this in my opinion inherent if probably personally uncomfortable truth. Considering that many (if not perhaps even the majority) of the explorers presented and described by Jean Fritz in Around the World in a Hundred Years willfully and with purpose enslaved or at least tried to enslave the native populations they encountered on their voyages of discovery (and often indeed attempted to and sometimes sadly very much succeeded in annihilating both their cultures and often their very lives, with the excuse and justification that this was supposedly deemed both acceptable and necessary by both God and the Bible), I personally (and intellectually) have absolutely NO ISSUE whatsoever with Jean Fritz in Around the World in a Hundred Years generally being both critical and yes indeed very massively condemning and even at times totally disrespectful with and in her tone of narrational, authorial voice. For while the journeys and discoveries, the explorations of individuals like Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan et al certainly ended up opening the world, the often (and sadly quite regular) presented and demonstrated anger, hatred and animosity against and towards the native populations the explorers encountered on their voyages and how they did rather too often seem to use the Bible and the in the Bible present supposed "Word of God" to justify slavery and genocide, this should really make ANYONE with reason and common sense (and whether one be Christian or not) actively and vehemently condemn and reject much of the Age of Discovery and in particular how religion was often and rather constantly made use of to justify the deliberate horror and evil perpetrated against the native populations of North and South America, Australia, Southern Africa etc.

A great general introduction to the Age of Exploration and to some of the main movers and shakers, the main explorers is Around the World in a Hundred Years, and yes, I do (as you have probably very much noticed) particularly appreciate and enjoy Jean Fritz's general writing style and personal attitude, that she presents her narrative as enlightening, informative, occasionally humorous and always always with an in my opinion totally necessary and required massive dose of disrespect and condemnation of what the explorers and their backers (the kings and queens on whose behalf they were voyaging and discovering) tended to generally cause for many if not for the vast majority of the native populations of the areas, of the countries they started colonising (with the notes and bibliographical lists at the back of Around the World in a Hundred Years being both an added bonus and an appreciated teaching and learning tool).

The Plant Hunters: True Stories of Their Daring Adventures to the Far Corners of the Earth

Although much of the information textually presented by Anita Silvey in her Middle Grade The Plant Hunters: True Stories of Their Daring Adventures to the Far Corners of the Earth certainly is interesting enough and yes, quite exotically adventuresome in and of itself, both personally and intellectually, I have found The Plant Hunters: True Stories of Their Daring Adventures to the Far Corners of the Earth rather woefully one-sided at best and as such for the most part also rather totally and absolutely ignoring the (in my opinion omni-present and necessary to consider) negative undercurrents of especially much of the 19th century explorations of South America, Africa etc. and the harvesting of novel, newly discovered plant species. For while I might have indeed found reading about Alexander von Humboldt and other 19th century plant explorers informative to a certain extent (and also kind of grudgingly am somewhat in awe that they would risk so much, including their health and often their very lives in order to not only find but also collect and bring back home with them exotic plant species), frankly, I do have to consider Anita Silvey's attitude that these plant collectors always should somehow to be seen as heroic and positive, as dashing adventurers more than a bit blinkered and naive.

For one, and I do believe that this point should at least have been approached somewhat critically by the author in The Plant Hunters: True Stories of Their Daring Adventures to the Far Corners of the Earth, in my opinion, many of these early explorers certainly did seem to have a very sadly and truly horribly lackadaisical approach and attitude towards the many dangers they were or would likely be facing on their voyages of discovery. And furthermore, their lack of foresight and their cavalier approach to possible threats and horrors during their plant foraging and exploration expeditions would also of course have caused the same threats of illness and danger to and for their shipmates, to and for those hired or shanghaied (forced) to help the plant hunters on their explorations (and no, I do not consider this all that heroic, for it is one thing to put only yourself in danger, but it is quite another thing to involve others and especially those who have no or at least not much choice in the matter). And for two, I am indeed rather massively furious that Anjta Silvey in The Plant Hunters: True Stories of Their Daring Adventures to the Far Corners of the Earth does not ever really consider the many real and potential environmental problems and issues that have been and can be caused by non native plants, that she never mentions the threats and dangers posed by so-called invasive species. For while many of the discovered (harvested, collected) plant species were indeed being used both horticulturally and commercially, there have also and from day one so to speak been problematic instances of non native, exotic plants invading and threatening native species, and that with 19th century plant enthusiasts discovering exotic flowers, trees, grasses etc. and taking them back home to often Europe, indeed, this did not always have positive and non problematic consequences for native European ecosystems, and of course the same holds true for other countries and vice versa (not to mention that Anita Silvey equally has very conveniently decided to simply ignore questions of 19th century imperialism and colonialism in The Plant Hunters: True Stories of Their Daring Adventures to the Far Corners of the Earth and actually even dares to offhandedly refer to Native Americans in a manner that makes them in my opinion appear quite as "uncivilized savages").

And therefore, from both a reading pleasure and an intellectual, academic point of departure, I have not really all that much either enjoyed or even been able to very much appreciate The Plant Hunters: True Stories of Their Daring Adventures to the Far Corners of the Earth as a work of factually sound non fiction (as indeed, I do find author Anita Silvey's presented and featured text pretty much lacking with regard to some rather important questions and considerations that I for one do feel need to definitely be raised and discussed in The Plant Hunters: True Stories of Their Daring Adventures to the Far Corners of the Earth and yes, I can really only and without reservations recommend The Plant Hunters: True Stories of Their Daring Adventures to the Far Corners of the Earth for its accompanying visuals and the extensive bibliography at the back of the book).

I am not going to repost my reviews for these four “explorer” oriented non fiction picture books by Sandra Markle (you can read them in the Sandra Markle topic). But I just want to say that all four books feature both science (ecological, biological) and geographic themes.

Animals Marco Polo Saw: An Adventure on the Silk Road
Animals Charles Darwin Saw: An Around the World Adventure
Animals Christopher Columbus Saw: An Adventure in the New World
Animals Robert Scott Saw: An Adventure in Antartica

How I Learned Geography

A moving and emotionally affecting story (based on Uri Shulewitz's own boyhood, his family's escape from Nazi-occupied Poland to Central Asia), How I Learned Geography not only poignantly demonstrates the ravages of war, of being a refugee with scant resources for food and other basic necessities many of us take for granted, the book also shows how one special object (in this case, a map of the world that the young boy's father buys instead of purchasing bread) can make a terrible, inhumane reality more tolerable. And while at first glance, said map might be regarded as a frivolously foolish purchase, as the young boy's father explains, he had just enough money to buy a very tiny piece of bread, which would have partially nourished the family, but only for a day, or a night at the most. On the other hand, the map the father has purchased soon floods the family's small, desolate room with colour and vision, encouraging imagination, learning, a sense of escapism, making the harsh reality of the present more livable. While the bread would only have provided temporary nourishment of the body, the map lastingly nourishes the soul, providing both solace and a sense of lasting, healing wonder.

Like my GR friend Lisa, I would also not really suggest reading How I Learned Geography when hungry, although my reaction (when I read the book on a very empty stomach) was a bit different from hers. For I never wished that the father had bought bread instead of the map, but I did feel quite livid at the couple who shared the family's hut (at not sharing their food, but more specifically, at the way the husband eats with such enthusiasm, seemingly rubbing it in that the young boy and his family have to go without any and all supper).

Uri Shulevitz's illustrations are bright and evocative, and while on their own, they would likely not be altogether to my taste, the illustrations work wonderfully well with the text, the narrative, both mirroring and expanding the latter. My personal favourite is the picture where the boy seems to soar above the world map, being transported to explore deserts, beaches, mountains, encountering the richness and diversity of the world, of the earth, armed only with a large world map and the power of his imagination (and I can in all ways both appreciate and applaud Uri Shulewitz' Caldecott Honour designstion for How I Learned Geography).

Although the narrative is simply told, and easy to understand, I would not necessarily recommend this excellent picture book for very young children, as some of the themes presented (war, hunger, being a refugee) are rather heavy and potentially traumatic. I think that a good age group would be children from about ages five to eight, although even older children would likely enjoy and appreciate How I Learned Geography, especially if reading the book were accompanied by discussions on and about some of the issues mentioned above.

Madlenka

When Madlenka, who lives in a vibrant and culturally diverse New York City neighbourhood has a loose tooth, she decides to visit her many friends and tell them of this momentous news. Her visiting makes her late, and when her worried parents ask their daughter where she he has been, Madlenka replies that she has been on a trip around the world (and that she has finally lost her tooth).

I very much love and appreciate the premise of this sparsely narrated, lushly illustrated picture book. While there is adequate textual information provided (like the opening and all encompassing concept of Madlenka's loose tooth, the different greetings of Madlenka's diverse friends, bonjour, sathsariakal, buon giorno, guten Tag, hola, tashi delek), much of the details, much of the cultural information is presented with and by the lush and intricately detailed illustrations. I believe children (as well as adults who enjoy hidden object pictures) will love poring over the many small images, attempting to locate objects, stories, culturally significant buildings in Peter Sis' illustrative spreads.

However, and as someone who has always had a bit of difficulty successfully locating hidden objects in picture puzzles, I find it kind of frustrating and annoying that author/illustrator Peter Sis has not also included a list of items to be found, to be located (at the back of the book), as I am sure I missed quite a number of them. But even more than a list of searchable images/articles, what this book, what Madlenka is truly and sadly lacking, is additional cultural and geographic information on the diverse items and scenes depicted (both the more obvious ones and the puzzle-like images hidden in the larger illustrations). These will more than likely give rise to both questions and discussions, and additional informative details on, say, the Grimms' fairy tales, the Eiffel Tower, the pyramids of Latin America, Cleopatra and so forth would have changed Peter Sis' Madlenka from an entertaining and moderately informative puzzle-search picture book offering to an amazing teaching and learning tool, not only for at home, but also in-class use.

About the illustrations themselves, while I think that they are lush, evocative and imaginative, I do find some of the colour sequences Peter Sis has used visually problematic. For example, the dark gray colour scheme of the full-page illustrated section on France makes it quite difficult for me to discern some of the buildings depicted, and I have similar visual issues regarding the full-page spread depicting Germany, as the all-green colour scale makes certain of the stories and literary figures rather difficult to distinguish from each other and from the equally green background. Also, I cannot help but wonder if younger children might not potentially be frightened by some of the illustrations (I know that I would have found rather a few of the images, particularly in the German, Asian and Latin American sections rather creepy and frightening as a young child). All in all though, and my disappointment at the lack of supplemental cultural information notwithstanding, I do strongly and warmly recommend Madlenka to and for children interested in world geography and world culture, especially if said children also enjoy looking for hidden images, hidden objects.

Let's Call It Canada: Amazing Stories of Canadian Place Names

A fun and informative (not to mention richly and humorously illustrated) sojourn into the various (and sometimes rather strange and silly) origins of Canadian place names, Susan Hughes' Let's Call it Canada: Amazing Stories of Canadian Place Names is both entertaining and also of course a wonderful teaching and learning resource for an upper level elementary, middle school, and perhaps even junior high classroom (and I know that I would have massively enjoyed using a book such as this for perusal and research when we were doing units on Canadian geography in grade six and grade seven social studies). However and that being said, while I do appreciate Clive and Jolie Dobson's accompanying illustrations, I have not really enjoyed them all that much on a personal and aesthetic level (as they are simply too caricature and cartoon like for my tastes), and I also more than a few times did and still do want considerably more narrational and thematic details (more so-called story meat about the various origins), but all in all, Let's Call it Canada: Amazing Stories of Canadian Place Names truly is both informative and engaging (especially if one considers the intended age group), and thankfully Susan Hughes has also penned her narrative in a style that is actually very much and appreciatively engaging for a nonfiction book. And although if taken from a purely potential reading pleasure point of view, I would more than likely be ranking Let's Call it Canada: Amazing Stories of Canadian Place Names with but three stars, the fact that the author has also included oh so many resources for further reading and research, such as a detailed bibliographical section, featuring not only books but also a number of online resources, this sure does make me without any qualms consider four stars. Highly recommended (and not only for children either, as many adults, but especially teachers and librarians, will likely also find the information presented in Let's Call it Canada: Amazing Stories of Canadian Place Names of interest).

If the World Were a Village: A Book about the World's People

Although I am actually a bit overwhelmed with and by the seemingly vast amount of information presented, and especially so with all of the numerical data (and would therefore tend to divide the same into smaller, more manageable chunks if I were reading this with or to children), David J. Smith's If the World Were a Village truly is, I believe, one of the best books I have encountered to teach global awareness to children. Exponential numbers, tragedies of epic proportions, the fact that many of the world's people do not have enough food to eat, clean water to drink, educational opportunities etc. are often hard for children to comprehend, to grasp (and yes, even adults often have trouble with this). But by imagining the world's population as one hundred people living in one single village, the numbers not only become more manageable and understandable, the world's problems, the discrepancy between rich and poor, the fact that out of a village of 100 people, only 24 will always have enough to eat, this also becomes much more present and immediate.

Neither gloom-and-doom nor artificially optimistic in its outlook, both positives and negatives are equally strongly presented, always striving for balance, making this lushly illustrated, informative picture book, making If the World Were a Village a perfect teaching/learning tool for either at-home or in-class use. And yes, as an added bonus, the author, David J. Smith has also and appreciatively included a detailed list of teaching suggestions, as well as relevant bibliographical sources for the data utilised, turning If the World Were a Village into an essential and informative resource for both teachers and parents (and while some of the teaching suggestions might indeed be rather standard, many of them, such as for example the concept of partnering schools, of fostering sister/brother communities around the world are in my opinion truly imaginative and innovative).

And finally, although I would not necessarily call Shelagh Armstrong's boldly colourful accompanying illustrations personal favourites, they do work really well with David J. Smith's text, providing a fitting complement, a wonderful and richly evocative mirror to and of the information presented. Highly recommended for older children interested in world geography, If the World Were a Village would also be a perfect teaching/learning tool in both elementary and middle school social studies classes (and well, perhaps even in high school classes, as the numerical information presented would of course be of interest and significance to and for older students and adults as well).

The Wonderful Adventures of Nils

Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature (in 1909), and her 1906/1907 (appearing in two volumes) children’s novel Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige (which I am presently reading in a German translation of both volumes with the title of Nils Holgerssons wunderbare Reise mit den Wildgänsen and which in English translations usually appears as The Wonderful Adventures of Nils for volume one and The Further Adventures of Nils for volume two) was actually originally conceptualised by the author as a detailed geography reader for Swedish school children.

But even though the genesis of Nils Holgersson’s story might therefore perhaps not inspire all that much confidence and could actually cause potential readers to even fear that Lagerlöf’s presented text would be tedious and hopelessly didactic, well and in my opinion, my reading time with Nils Holgerssons wunderbare Reise mit den Wildgänsen totally demonstrates the opposite, totally shows that writing meant to be used for education and enlightenment can also be penned in a readable and engaging format. For yes indeed, Selma Lagerlöf’s presented text for Nils Holgerssons wunderbare Reise mit den Wildgänsen (and I of course am going to assume this to also be the case for the Swedish original and the English translation) is both delightfully poetical, fanciful and bien sûr also imbued with much realistic facts and information, leaving an engaging and wonderful story that is both episodic and at the same time with a continuing thread of redemption, of turned into a gnome as punishment for cruelty and self-centredness Nils on his travels with his flock of wild geese not only discovering Sweden as a country, along with Swedish folklore, history, culture, industry and modern (for 1906/1907) agricultural practices, but also being taught slowly and steadily (and sometimes even rather painfully) how to become less selfish, how he, how Nils needs to learn to care for and about his fellow human beings and that being kind to animals is in fact a sign of strength and maturity and not ever the mark of weakness.

And although there is definitely a strong and palpable didactic current present in Selma Lagerlöf’s words with regard to Nils’ transformation from nasty to nice, from me, me, me oriented to helpfully altruistic and that Nils Holgerssons wunderbare Reise mit den Wildgänsen does most definitely provide very much overt instruction about Sweden, Selma Lagerlöf definitely does present and feature her verbal messages and educational information gracefully and engagingly, leaving my personal feelings with regard to Nils Holgerssons wunderbare Reise mit den Wildgänsen very much that this novel has delightfully and wonderfully been a total reading pleasure (and one that I also would have very much enjoyed and appreciated as a child) and with my only and very minor criticism being that since Nils Holgerssons wunderbare Reise mit den Wildgänsen features Nils travelling throughout Sweden with those wild geese, that I sure would be wanting some included detailed maps.

East to the Sea

Both textually and visually (illustratively) very much similar to Return to the Sea, East to the Sea (which has also been written and illustrated by Heidi Jardine Stoddart) lovingly and with much joyful engagement describes yet another family vacation at a grandfather's cottage in New Brunswick (and although no names are ever narrationally mentioned by Stoddart, I do strongly believe that it is the same family who is featured in Return to the Sea, except that the three presented sisters are of course quite a bit younger in East to the Sea). And indeed, with an engaging poetical text and lovely, evocative accompanying artwork, the one main difference encountered between East to the Sea and Return to the Sea is that while the latter focuses not only on the sea, but also on many of the sights and sounds, the tourist attractions of Atlantic Canada, Return to the Sea concentrates primarily on the family's fun at the beach (making sandcastles, swimming, climbing rocks, beachside picnics, family bonfires on moonlit nights). Evocative of the sea, of Atlantic Canada's maritime beauty, I have certainly massively and sweetly enjoyed East to the Sea, and indeed quite as much as I had previously adored and appreciated Return to the Sea, as both books are wonderful and delightful as textual and visual homages to and celebrations of Atlantic Canada. And yes, I do most highly recommend both East to the Sea and Return to the Sea to and for anyone who enjoys poetical tales and depictions about fun, relaxation, but at the same time also culturally and geographically enriching seaside family vacations.

Return to the Sea

Both a loving depiction and description of a fun and adventuresome family vacation and an informative journey to and through Atlantic Canada, Return to the Sea (written and also illustrated by Heidi Jardine Stoddart) really does leave me feeling both nostalgic and delightfully warm and fuzzy. Because since I attended university in New Brunswick for my undergraduate years, Heidi Jardine Stoddart’s poetic descriptions and illustrations of Maritime landmarks in East to the Sea such as for example Peggy's Cove, the russet coloured roads of Prince Edward Island, the famous tides of the Bay of Fundy, this is really and truly like meeting up with old and very dear appreciated friends. Granted that some of Stoddard's presented and featured poetry might indeed feel a bit disjointed and forced, and that her illustrated human figures at times do show in particular lips that are rather too brightly prominent for my own personal and aesthetic taste, but yes, to and for me, this does not really matter all that much, so enchanted am I with both text and accompanying illustrations. Recommended for children (and also adults) interested in Atlantic Canada as a region is Return to the Sea (and not just the seaside and beaches, as Return to the Sea also shows the Citadel at Halifax, the longest covered bridge in the world at Hartland, New Brunswick, and on the family's trip by car to the East Coast, "Vieux Québec" with its chateau, rising above the St. Lawrence River like an immense glowing jewel). And while personally I would probably not ever wish to purchase and wear a hat with Anne of Green Gables red braids attached, I am definitely totally sweetly tickled to see one of my favourite Canadian literary characters mentioned, and could well imagine how wearing these hats would have been great fun for the three vacationing sisters. There is, however, one specific scene/description in Return tot the Sea that I personally do happen to find not all that enjoyable, and actually, rather majorly problematic (on Prince Edward Island), and that is the marine saltwater touch tank at the pier, where tourists can seemingly both see and touch lobsters and other sea creatures. For honestly, I just do not in ANY manner think that a touch-tank is all that animal-friendly, as these poor marine creatures should be in the ocean, not in an aquarium like enclosure (and no matter how large) to be pawed at and examined by curious tourists. However, that small episode does actually not greatly affect my general enchantment with Return to the Sea, although indeed, I do very much wish that Heidi Jardine Stoddard had decided to describe a different scene, a different PEI tourist attraction (especially since there really are so many from which she could have chosen). And thus, only a high three star rating for Return to the Sea rather than the four stars I originally did and very strongly consider!

Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion

Although I still do tend to find Mo Willems' illustrations a bit too cartoon like for them to ever be considered personal aesthetic favourites, the many included photographs of Holland (and, of course, of the world, during Trixie's Knuffle Bunny dream) are indeed lovely, informative, expressive, and as to the story, as to the featured narrative itself, I have just absolutely and oh so so much adored this third instalment of the Knuffle Bunny trilogy, Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion, and indeed very much consider it my special and heart-melting absolute favourite of the series. For aside from the fact that Trixie is most definitely growing up and becoming more mature (which can be seen in the manner she reacts when it becomes clear that she has forgotten Knuffle Bunny on the airplane, that she obviously is upset, but does not throw a temper tantrum, does not act all nasty and whining, that she is simply and also understandably a bit sad due to Knuffle Bunny being gone), Trixie not only manages to get over her treasured bunny's loss and to wholly enjoy her visit with Oma and Opa in Holland, but when she does miraculously find Knuffle Bunny on the plane (when the family is travelling back to the USA), Trixie of her own volition, makes the not only grownup but first and foremost incredibly sweet and tenderly caring decision to give Knuffle Bunny to the mother and her crying and fussy baby sitting behind her, making the erstwhile fussy and crying infant happy, the baby's mother thankful, Trixie's parents proud of their daughter, and the other passengers relieved.

A truly wonderful ending to the three Knuffle Bunny books (and I for one am actually a bit in awe at Trixie's sacrifice, for I am not sure I would have been able to at that age give up my own treasured and beloved stuffed plush bunny like that). And thus, four glowingly shining stars for Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion, as from the three books featuring Trixie and her Knuffle Bunny, this is most definitely the one that I have enjoyed the most and without reservations (and indeed, even the accompanying illustrations I seem to have liked more in Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion, especially the pink dancing bunny replacement that speaks Dutch). Most highly recommended (and truth be told, I certainly and absolutely did not in any way expect to enjoy Mo Willems' Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion as much I have).

Mapping Penny's World

The concept of having children (students) produce detailed personal maps, and in this here scenario maps for a favourite pet (Penny the dog) is rather ingenious, and the accompanying illustrations are indeed bright and cheerful and although not really all that much to my personal tastes do work well enough in conjunction with and to the presented text (using a book like Mapping Penny's World with a child, or a group of children, either at home, or at school, would likely not only make maps, map-reading and map-making fun and diverting, I believe it would also make the latter more personally significant, and not some vague, confusing idea with no personal connections). And while I, myself, do find the maps and the mapmaking instructions featured and depicted somewhat confusing, I realise that this is primarily (and likely) due to the fact that I have (and always have had) some rather significant visual/spatial perception issues, and that as an introduction to basic mapmaking skills, Loreen Leedy's Mapping Penny's World is visually bright, colourfully detailed, and with just enough information presented to make the book informative without overwhelming most students, most children.

However and all being said, I do NOT really in any way fully understand why the author/illustrator, why Loreen Leedy has not also included additional information, and especially teaching/learning hints at the back of the Mapping Penny's World. A list of supplemental activities, suggestions on how to teach mapmaking and map-reading skills (and especially to and for students/children who might be like me, who might have visual/spatial problems and issues) would make this a much better and more useful teaching/learning tool. With additional information and teaching suggestions, I would most definitely consider a high three star rating for Mapping Penny's World, but the lack thereof (which I do consider a rather major shortcoming) makes me consider but a high two star rating (well actually, two and a half stars, but not really enough for three stars).

Linnea in Monet's Garden

Christina Björk's Linnea in Monet's Garden (which was originally published in Sweden in 1985 under the title of Linnea i Målarens Trädgård, with the English language translation penned in 1987 by Joan Sandin) has been on my to-read list for almost a decade, and I am happy to say that I have now remedied this shortcoming, that I have both read and yes indeed also very much enjoyed Linnea in Monet's Garden (although truth be told, I do very much wish that I were fluent in Swedish and could thus tackle Linnea in Monet's Garden in the original, or better yet, that a dual language English/Swedish edition of Linnea i Målarens Trädgård were available).

And yes, I very much do appreciate the smooth combination (the back and forth) of fiction and non-fiction in Linnea in Monet's Garden (and am actually rather surprised to have discovered quite a bit of hitherto personally unknown to me details and information regarding French Impressionist painter Claude Monet's life as an artist, including that for the 19th century, Monet definitely lived not only rather unconventionally, but also in a relationship with more than one woman simultaneously and in the same house). With Linnea's first person narrative voice shining brightly and sweetly in the fiction sections of Linnea in Monet's Garden, one can really emotionally feel and broadly smile at her effervescent joy of discovery and her constant delight as she and her elderly neighbour Mr. Bloom (who is a retired gardener) visit France to follow and explore both Claude Monet's art and his life. And while I do know and realise that there are in fact sone readers who seem to find it strange and even potentially problematic that a young girl like Linnea is allowed to travel to France without her family and even share a hotel room with an elderly gentleman who is not of her immediate family, frankly and in my opinion, there is absolutely nothing even remotely bordering on inappropriateness with and in Christina Björk's and by extension also translator Joan Landin's texts (since the joyful and engaging first person narration of Linnea in Monet's Garden really does demonstrate that Linnea's relationship with Mr. Bloom is comparable to a grandfather and granddaughter scenario, sweet, encouraging and with Mr. Bloom always acting like a treasured, understanding friend as well as a teacher). Now as to Lena Anderson's accompanying illustrations, they are bright, descriptive and totally capture not only Linnea's joy and and delightfully bubbly personality, they also present a glowing visual homage to France and to Monet's garden in Giverny (as well as depicting Mr. Bloom as being in all ways a kindly and grandfatherly soul whom I personally would definitely have wanted as a friend when I was Linnea's age). With the many reproductions of Claude Monet's signature impressionistic artwork (as well as the additional information on French and in particular Parisian museums either specialising in Claude Monet or showing the art of French Impressionism, not to mention the suggestions for additional fun and educational things to do if one visits Paris) being appreciated added bonuses, I easily and happily grant a full five stars to Linnea in Monet's Garden (and this even though I personally do wish that the short bibliographical list contained more than just five books, since well, at least Christina Björk has actually included a bibliography in Linnea in Monet's Garden and that indeed, all of the included tomes on Claude Monet's life and art do look very thorough and academically appealing to and for me).

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World

While perhaps at times a bit too overly fantastical and whimsical for my picture book tastes (and although I do kind of wish that the unnamed main character had actually striven to collect more of her apple pie ingredients from local and not so much from international sources, from areas requiring overseas travelling), Marjorie Priceman's How to Make and Apple Pie and See the World does present to children the important and essential truth that without markets, that without grocery stores, making foods, making recipes is actually and generally rather potentially difficult. For not only do you need to procure the main ingredients for a given recipe (in this case a simple apple pie), but once you have obtained the raw materials (durum wheat, salt water, a chicken, cinnamon, a cow, sugar cane, apples), the former often will still need to be processed and changed in order to be actually make the recipe, to bake the apple pie desired; the collected durum wheat must be milled into flour, the salt has to be evaporated out of the sea water, the chicken must lay an egg, the cow must be milked and the milk then churned into butter and so on and so on), thus clearly showing and demonstrating in a fun and engaging fashion that individual food preparation used to be considerably more involved and complicated than it is now when much if not most of our produce, the ingredients for making recipes from so-called scratch is simply a matter of going to the local store (and perhaps to also point out that there are actually many areas of the world, where basic food preparation is still much more involved and complicated, still does entail amassing and then often processing raw materials into the ingredients required for a pie, a stew, well really anything). As to the accompanying illustrations (and Marjorie Priceman acts as both author and illustrator with How to Make and Apple Pie and See the World), while on their own, I find them a trifle too garish and cartoon like for my aesthetics, they do show a wonderful colour scheme and with their sense of fun and movement, act as a perfect complement to and for the engaging, often slyly humorous text (although I do have to wonder why the French chicken the main character collects looks more like a rooster than a chicken). Nevertheless, most highly recommended, and a perfect combination of fun and education, instruction and delight.

Why We Live Where We Live

Lots of information and details on human geography, this book starts out interestingly enough, but in my opinion, the combination of text and images has not really been all that successful. Kira Vermond’s text provides extensive details but remains much too annoyingly on the surface and also much too uncritical. And frankly, less human geography scenarios more intensely and in-depth analysed would definitely be much better than this rather massive but woefully too basic and uncritical introduction to where humans live and why, with Julie McLaughlin’s cartoony illustrations and lack of a bibliography also contributing to me not having all that much enjoyed Why We Live Where We Live and to only be considering two stars as a rating.

The Alphabet Atlas

This A to Z atlas has very nice and colourful quilt like illustrations (although I do think there should really be a combination of artwork and photographs). But because the information for the 26 countries featured by Arthur Yorinks only features one to two pieces of geographic knowledge for each letter section, in my opinion, The Alphabet Atlas absolutely needs a supplemental section containing more information regarding the featured countries (and other nations with the same first letters) as well as a bibliography with suggestions for further reading (and the lack of this really is a major shortcoming).

Manybooks wrote: "How I Learned Geography

A moving and emotionally affecting story (based on Uri Shulewitz's own boyhood, his family's escape from Nazi-occupied Poland to Central Asia), How I Learned..."

I enjoyed this one as well. Here is my review:
This was an inspiring story of how a map ignited a young boy's imagination, so that he eventually became an award-winning author/illustrator. On the other hand, I can also understand the Mother's being upset that Father spent money on a map rather than on food. The little boy's imaginary journeys are depicted in cheerful watercolor and ink paintings. The author's note helped to explain the family's situation and various moves.

Manybooks wrote: "Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion

Although I still do tend to find Mo Willems' illustrations a bit too cartoon like for them to ever be considered personal aesthetic favou..."

I didn't write a review of this book, but I loved it as much as Manybooks, and gave it 5 stars.

Manybooks wrote: "Linnea in Monet's Garden

Christina Björk's Linnea in Monet's Garden (which was originally published in Sweden in 1985 under the title of Linnea i Målarens Trädgård, with the English ..."

This is another fine book for which I did not write a review; but I enjoyed the story and loved the illustrations. I gave it 4 stars.

Manybooks wrote: "How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World

While perhaps at times a bit too overly fantastical and whimsical for my picture book tastes (and although I do kind of wish that the unnam..."

I liked the story well enough in this book, but I think I was underwhelmed by the illustrations and gave this book 3 stars.

Beverly wrote: "Manybooks wrote: "Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion

Although I still do tend to find Mo Willems' illustrations a bit too cartoon like for them to ever be considered person..."

This is my favourite of the three books!

Map My Continent by Jennifer Boothroyd
This is one of six books in the series; the other books include Map My Country; Map My State; Map My Neighborhood; Map My Home; and Map My Room.
This is a very short and very simple book, possibly for grades 1 and 2, although some students may need help with some of the vocabulary. Basically, the book shows students how to plan what to put on their map; then, using a blank map of a continent (in this case, the North American continent), how to add country names, river names, and other places to the map. Students are also instructed to include a compass rose and a map key. Very basic, very straightforward, very utilitarian. Illustrated with photos and drawings. Includes Fun Facts about continents, a glossary, and an index.

Follow That Map!: A First Book of Mapping Skills by Scot Ritchie

This fun book begins with a double page spread showing different parts of a map, such as the compass rose, the legend, the scale bar, etc. The story is that five friends use different maps to look for a runaway dog and cat. Each map focuses on a map skill. For example, the first map focuses on the legend, the second on a path, the third on the compass rose, etc. The maps include street maps, topographical maps, map of an amusement park, world map, weather map, etc. The cartoon illustrations are very colorful. Young readers will have fun finding the dog and cat on each of the maps.

Henry the Navigator: Prince of Portuguese Exploration

Yes, Author Lisa Ariganello certainly does provide a huge and also quite wide ranging plethora of both interesting and educational historical and geographic details in her 2006 non fiction picture book Henry the Navigator: Prince of Portuguese Exploration, and both Ariganello’s presented text and the accompanying visuals definitely do clearly and concisely show and demonstrate how and why the Medieval kingdom of Portugal was able to become such a major so-called mover and shaker of the Age of Exploration (and that even though Prince Henry the Navigator did not himself captain most of Portugal’s expeditions into Africa, without Henry’s financial backing and support, these voyages of discovery and colonisation would likely not have occurred or would at the very least have happened on a much more limited scale).

But albeit with Henry the Navigator: Prince of Portuguese Exploration Lisa Ariganello’s text absolutely does feature a decent and informative enough basic introduction to Medieval Portugal and equally demonstrates how Prince Henry the Navigator’s sponsored voyages of discovery created not only many new and very prosperous trade routes but also the first Portuguese colonies in many parts of Africa, I do have to and very readily admit that the in my humble opinion quite casual textual acceptance of the author regarding the Crusades and above all slavery, this has all felt incredibly uncomfortable and massively problematic for both my inner child and my adult self (and so much so that I would in fact only recommend Henry the Navigator: Prince of Portuguese Exploration with major reservations, and that indeed, if reading Henry the Navigator: Prince of Portuguese Exploration with or to the intended audience, with or to older children from about the age of eight onwards, discussions regarding Lisa Ariganello and that her tone of narrative voice feels and reads much too blasé and accepting of in particular the African slave trade should really be an absolute necessity, a total must).

For while I do to a certain point appreciate that Lisa Ariganello does not in Henry the Navigator: Prince of Portuguese Exploration choose to ignore either the Crusades or the fact that the concept of enslaving the native populations encountered on voyages of discovery and conquest seems to have rather been invented by Portugal and by extension thus by Prince Henry the Navigator, that the details about slavery are simply related by Ariganello without much if any criticism and condemnation thereof and that there also seems to be ample excuses made for Prince Henry in particular since enslaving the Natives encountered and foisting Christianity on them was supposedly (according to Lisa Ariganello) saving their souls from descending into hell, well, sorry, but this is simply NOT ACCEPTABLE and has certainly taken much of my reading pleasure completely away (since come on, in 2006, there should tall NO LONGER be authors actually making religion based excuses for slavery and for the Crusades and that this does in my opinion kind of too often seems to be the case in Henry the Navigator: Prince of Portuguese Exploration is horrible, is ridiculous and cringeworthy).

And therefore, I cannot and will not give more than two stars to Henry the Navigator: Prince of Portuguese Exploration as indeed, the author’s much too accepting acceptance of slavery for seemingly religious reasons is simply and utterly not acceptable, and not to mention that there is unfortunately also no bibliography included in Henry the Navigator: Prince of Portuguese Exploration, which to and for me a major academic faux pas and also makes Henry the Navigator: Prince of Portuguese Exploration absolutely useless for any supplemental study and research.

Great topic! I'll try to participate a little later this month.

Beverly wrote: "Manybooks wrote: "How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World

While perhaps at times a bit too overly fantastical and whimsical for my picture book tastes (and although I do kind of w..."

How to Make a Cherry Pie and See the U.S.A. is the sequel, which I didn't like nearly as much as I liked Apple Pie/World (which I really enjoyed) but might still be worth a read for those children who liked the Apple Pie book.

Manybooks wrote: "Mapping Penny's World

The concept of having children (students) produce detailed personal maps, and in this here scenario maps for a favourite pet (Penny the dog) is rather ingenious..."

I agreed with most of Manybooks' review, especially in the first paragraph. I agree that making maps that are personal to a child's world will help that child understand maps and map-making more than just a utilitarian book on how to make a map. I personally did not miss extra teaching helps in the back, and so gave the book 4 stars.

The Lost Treasure of Larry Longfoot ~ Learning to Use a Map by Cari Meister
This story follows two pirates searching for treasure, using a single map of "Boot Island," which is, surprisingly enough, shaped like a boot. The treasure map includes a legend, a compass rose, and a scale. Once the two pirates arrive on the island, they have to figure out how to follow the map to the X marks the spot. There is also a surprise at the end. The illustrations are cartoony, but clear, and readers should be able to follow the action easily. The back matter includes an activity, glossary, bibliography, index, and one internet site.

Manhattan: Mapping the Story of an Island by Jennifer Thermes

This book is as much a history of Manhattan Island as a mapping of it. Beginning with the Native people who lived on the island, Thermes works through the years from the coming of the Dutch, to the coming of the British, and on up to the present. Many, many historical events are included, with maps of what Manhattan looked like at that time. Thermes includes the planning of and making of Central Park. Eventually, the entire island of Manhattan was taken over by city. This is an interesting history book. It is not intended to teach children how to make a map, but it includes maps for every era of history that the author writes about. The illustrations in watercolor, colored pencil, and ink are extremely detailed and instructive. The back matter includes a time line, a bibliography/website list, and a list of 4 museums on the island. This wordy book is probably for about 4th grade through 8th grade.

Beverly wrote: "Manybooks wrote: "Mapping Penny's World

The concept of having children (students) produce detailed personal maps, and in this here scenario maps for a favourite pet (Penny the dog) i..."

I probably would have given this three stars if I had liked the illustrations more.

So yes, while Don't Know Much About Geography: Everything You Need to Know About the World but Never Learned is not specifically meant for children, I do think that this is a pretty decent introduction and definitely suitable for readers above the age of twelve.

Now I first read Kenneth C. Davis' Don't Know Much About Geography: Everything You Need to Know About the World but Never Learned when it originally appeared on the market in 1992 (it was a nice and most welcome break from my massive and literary mega-tomes heavy German PhD Comprehensive Exams reading list and I certainly at that time did in fact sorely need a perusal choice that was both informative and engaging, but also without too much academic dryness and monotony). And yes, considering what I was expecting and wanting from Don't Know Much About Geography: Everything You Need to Know About the World but Never Learned the book (and by extension of course also the author) indeed very much achieved and more than reached my expectations (a fast and fun read, and although I did at times think that Kenneth C. Davis' repeated mocking of the Bible, while not inappropriate and an issue to and for me personally and in and of itself, might have perhaps been just a trifle too off topic with regard to a book specifically about geography, generally, I did really and truly enjoy Don't Know Much About Geography: Everything You Need to Know About the World but Never Learned and the author's staunchly politically liberal, centrist and very much anti fundamentalist and right wing extremist tone of narrational voice, and in retrospect, especially that Davis was warning about man-made, pollution caused climate change and resulting global warming tendencies at a time where and when these were not even a topic that most meteorologists and climate scientists were as yet considering with in any manner sufficient urgency and concern).

However and the above having all been said, and while on my recent reread, I still very much and with all my heart tend to actively do agree with Kenneth C. Davis's political stance and the liberally centrist (most delightfully anti extremist and fundamentalist) tone and feel of Don't Know Much About Geography: Everything You Need to Know About the World but Never Learned, there are simply too many factual (often calendar date and time based) mistakes presented and featured for me to now consider more than a three star ranking at best. As honestly, Kenneth C. Davis getting the date wrong with regard to when North and South Vietnam reunited, as well as making some rather basic errors with regard to the timing of both the Apollo and Viking space missions and a few other such doozies, this really, this truly should not happen, and albeit it does in no way make me in any way despise Don't Know Much About Geography: Everything You Need to Know About the World but Never Learned, it definitely and indeed does take some of the shine off of my erstwhile wholehearted and total enjoyment and appreciation of and for this book.

Prairie Summer

Poetic, ecstatic and evocative, Nancy Hundal's words, her free flowing lyricism imaginatively, magically, glowingly but at the same time very much realistically demonstrates the joys, the delights, the multifaceted nuances of a summer (or more to the point, of a yearly summer vacation) on the Canadian prairies (in all likelihood Saskatchewan, but Southern Alberta and Southern Manitoba have equally grand vistas and similar scenarios), with gophers, grain elevators, mosquitoes, not only the sights but also the many sounds of Western Canadian farming life during the months of June, July, August and parts of September (from the hum of tractors to the often all encompassing drone of swarms of grasshoppers). Accompanied by Brian Deines' orange and brown hued illustrations, which do so totally colour wise capture the very essence of the season, of both time of year and geographic place, Prairie Summer presents a brilliant, emotive and absolutely delightful marriage of text and image, a both visual and narrational (poetic) celebration of the Canadian prairies in picture book format, a paean to summer, to the prairie's wide open spaces, to big skies and awe-inspiring grandeur, although I do have to wonder a bit that while Nancy Hundal depicts the majesty and giganticness of prairie winds, summertime prairie thunderstorms with their both awesome and frightening power and possibility for destruction have seemingly been ignored (and of course, while Prairie Summer is about Canada, Nancy Hundal's verses and Brian Deines' artwork could equally be describing the US Mid-West and states such as the Dakotas or Kansas).

Ottavia e i Gatti di Roma - Octavia and the Cats of Rome: A bilingual picture book in Italian and English

Claudia Cerulli's dual language Italian/English picture book Ottavia E I Gatti Di Roma - Octavia and the Cats of Rome is a both sweetly entertaining and also very much culturally and geographically enlightening introduction to some of the many monuments and historically significant areas of Rome (told from the point of view of two of the Colosseum many felines, two small and mischievous feral kittens named Octavia and Julius, who without their parents' knowledge and permission leave the Colosseum grounds to play and explore, end up getting hopelessly lost and thus requiring guidance to find and make their way back home).

A basic and yes indeed also very much fun general introduction to such Rome landmarks as the Colosseum (where the two main kitten protagonists of Ottavia E I Gatti Di Roma - Octavia and the Cats of Rome live in a large colony), Capitoline Museums, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and more, with some added but also fortunately never all too didactic messages and lessons about not simply running off to explore unknown areas without parental knowledge and consent (and especially delightful if you or if your children are cat enthusiasts and also have no issues with the fact that Rome not only has hundreds of thousands of feral cats living in the city but that according to the author's note at the back, Rome's feral cats are actually officially protected as well as being regularly fed by dedicated volunteers), and that this here picture book, that Ottavia E I Gatti di Roma - Octavia and the Cats of Rome is a dual language, a parallel text Italian and English offering is to and for me a simply marvellous and wonderful added bonus (and a great way to practice the Italian language, and albeit that the presented and featured Italian text is most definitely not meant for absolute beginners, indeed I have been able to figure out quite a large portion of the same by simple deduction, comparison and also remembering that Italian is a Romace language and thus strongly related to both French and Spanish). Most highly recommended, with Leo Lätti's accompanying illustrations being both imaginative and realistic at the same time (and especially playful kittens Octavia and her cousin Julius, they really and truly are just oh so so adorable), and definitely a shining four star reading experience for me (although if Claudia Cerulli had also included an Italian/English glossary at the back of Octavia E I Gatti di Roma - Octavia and the Cats of Rome, I would most likely be ranking this with a full five stars).

A Prairie Alphabet

Specific to the farming areas of Southern Saskatchewan (and with accompanying illustrations by Yvette Moore that are gloriously detailed, minutely descriptive and basically like detailed folk art paintings), Jo Bannatyne-Cugnet's A Prairie Alphabet is both informative, enlightening and also still very much focuses on older children from about age six to eight actually learning and practicing their letters (both majuscule and minuscule letters are shown, and the twenty-six alphabet sections not only present specific farm/prairie oriented textual blurbs, most of the descriptive words used are alliterative, which means that they begin with the featured letter). And thus, for the letter B, two Belgians named Bill and Bob bed in the barn, and for the letter M, a mouse munches a meal of millet by moonlight (and so on and so on, of course). In other words, A Prairie Alphabet is to be regarded as an actual alphabet book and NOT so much as a tome that uses the form and structure of the latter but does then not really spend too much time actually presenting and working with the letters of the alphabet (A Prairie Alphabet specifically features Saskatchewan prairie farming, but also very much focuses on letter and language practice, review).

Each of the twenty-six letter narratives are short but factually dense (and the alliterative use of the specific letters really does seem to work well with regard to familiarising and practising the alphabet, whilst also showing an informative romp through Saskatchewan, the prairies and farming culture, which information might also be further expanded upon by reading/using the supplemental details on each blurb presented at the back of A Prairie Alphabet). And for additional practice, Jo Bannatyne-Cugnet has also included a page of additional words for each of the letter sections (not only wonderful for additional language arts practicing, but ALL of the words are indeed related and thematically linked to and with the prairie/farming texts found the main section). Very highly recommended, and considering that the farming areas of Southern Saskatchewan are also rather similar in scope, geography and all-round feel to the farming areas of Southern Alberta, Southern Manitoba as well as the American Mid-West, A Prairie Alphabet could also be used as a language and letter based general introduction to North American prairie farming and life!

Just picked up from the library Atlas of Dinosaur Adventures: Step Into a Prehistoric World for my dino-loving kiddos. It's very engaging so far. I think I will have a few quibbles (no pronunciation guide, no bibliography!) but they started poring over it as soon as we got it home :-)

From the same series, I got Atlas of Miniature Adventures: A pocket-sized collection of small-scale wonders a few months ago and here's my review:
3.5 STARS This is a fun and interesting concept, I just think it's a bit too limited. As you'll learn from this book, being miniature doesn't necessarily equate to lacking in detail (just look at Tiny Ted, the world's smallest teddy bear, only 4.5 millimeters high but sewn the same as a real teddy bear with jointed arms and legs!) and the book does a good job of giving details about the places/objects/creatures they chose to include BUT I felt like a lot more could have been included.

The maps of different regions mention miniatures that are never addressed later in the book -- so I guess you could take to the internet and look them up, but it's just a bit too much of a tease to have them on the map and not give them the spotlight elsewhere.

The focus also just seems a bit too narrow at times considering the vast regions covered. For example, for the entire region of Asia and the Middle East the author highlights Japan twice(the Omiya Bonsai Village and Kyoto's Netsuke Museum) but mentions nothing from the Middle East (not even on the map -- is there really nothing miniature in all of the Middle East!?) and rounds out with the World's Smallest Teddy Bear in South Korea and the Smallest Seahorse in the World from Indonesia. For North America we only get minatures in the USA -- nothing in Canada or Mexico. For Central and South America we only get miniatures on islands.

I also wish there were some actual photographs (though the illustrations are okay except I really didn't like the illustrations of the kids). What's here is decent enough to pique the interest, I suppose. Note there is no back matter or suggestions for further reading so you'll have to do your own research if you want to know more.

Here are the miniatures discussed in the book (not counting those simply mentioned on the map):

EUROPE
Bekonscot Model Village (England)
Maudrodam (Holland)
Black Light Minigolf (Germany)
Musée Miniature (France)
Perzy Snow Globe Museum (Austria)

AFRICA
World's Smallest Primate (mouse lemur -- Madagascar)
Smallest Tortoise in the World (speckled padloper -- Namibia and South Africa)

NORTH AMERICA
Northlandz Model Railway (New Jersey, USA)
Fairy Castle (Chicago, IL, USA)
World's Smallest Butterfly (pygmy blue -- SW USA)
World's Smallest Postal Service (San Francisco)


CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
Littlest Lizards in the World (dwarf gecko -- Dominican Republic)
Smallest Bird in the World (bee hummingbird -- Cuba)

ASIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST
Omiya Bonsai Village (Japan)
Kyoto's Netsuke Museum (Japan)
World's Smallest Teddy Bears (Teddy Bear Museum, South Korea)
Smallest Seahorse in the World (Satomi's pygmy seahorse -- Indonesia)

AUSTRALASIA AND OCEANIA
World's Smallest Frog (Papua New Guinea)
Desert Goby (Australia)

ANTARCTIC
Antarctic Krill (Southern Ocean)

The World Made New: Why the Age of Exploration Happened and How It Changed the World

Educational, readable, balanced (but I actually would probably have enjoyed The World Made New: Why the Age of Exploration Happened and How It Changed the World more without the many visuals, as they did kind of distract me from reading, but that is actually often the case with longer and more wordy picture books).

Did enjoy Marc Aronson and John W. Glenn’s text, but even though I do appreciate that in The World Made New: Why the Age of Exploration Happened and How It Changed the World there is fortunately no longer any ridiculous and unacceptable hero worshipping of individuals like Christopher Columbus present, I still do very much think that the authors’ criticisms go nearly far enough.

Rated The World Made New: Why the Age of Exploration Happened and How It Changed the World with three stars but upped it to four, as the authors’ introduction to the Age of Exploration is readable and still sufficiently balanced and that the bibliographic materials are outstanding.

Manybooks wrote: "The World Made New: Why the Age of Exploration Happened and How It Changed the World

Educational, readable, balanced (but I actually would probably have enjoyed [book:The World Made ..."

This sounds interesting. I put it on hold at my library.

Beverly wrote: "Manybooks wrote: "The World Made New: Why the Age of Exploration Happened and How It Changed the World

Educational, readable, balanced (but I actually would probably have enjoyed [bo..."

It is definitely interesting and has wonderful secondary sources for both students and also teachers.

Beverly wrote: "Manhattan: Mapping the Story of an Island by Jennifer Thermes

This book is as much a history of Manhattan Island as a mapping of it. Beginning with the Native peopl..."

I like seeing the changes over time as depicted by maps of the different eras... this book intrigues....

Manybooks wrote: "The World Made New: Why the Age of Exploration Happened and How It Changed the World

Educational, readable, balanced ..."

Another one that interests me!

The two I have currently, ready to skim, are:

The Geography Book: Activities for Exploring, Mapping, and Enjoying Your World (Larger, about the size of a heavy monthly magazine.)

I Wish I Knew That: Geography: Cool Stuff You Need to Know (Small design about the size of a juvenile novel; part of a series?

Cheryl wrote: "Manybooks wrote: "The World Made New: Why the Age of Exploration Happened and How It Changed the World

Educational, readable, balanced ..."

Another one that interests me!"

This one is available on Open Library.

The Geography Book: Activities for Exploring, Mapping, and Enjoying Your World Carefully skimmed for the theme of Geography in Children's Books group, August 2021. I currently have no access to children... but I believe young me would have enjoyed doing some of these.

I appreciate that it includes both human and physical geography, and makes the distinction. It also has a progression of the difficulty of the activities & the sophistication of the concepts... I recommend educators, including home-schooling families, don't do a unit on maps and try to do lots of the activities, but rather that they do one activity a month or so, perhaps with a few other reinforcing mini lessons in between.

Included are explorations of a weather map, a population dot map, map vs. globe, etc. Nice design & illustrations. Also includes glossary, further reading, and index.

Better activities for some concepts exist. I recommend making iced tea (simply put 3-4 bags per quart in a plastic pitcher, fill about 2/3 w/ water, set it in the sun (on top of a car works great) for a few hours, bring inside to discard tea bags, fill the rest of the way with water, refrigerate) for the concept of Solar Energy. Greenhouse Effect is even easier... just compare the inside of the car (or the outer lobby of some banks, schools, etc) to the outside temperature.

Still, I highly recommend this to parents and other educators.

I Wish I Knew That: Geography is for young fans of non-fiction. It is indeed something that a kid can carry around and read independently. Which is great, because often teachers encourage novels more than non-fiction, and give reluctant kids magazines like Ranger Rick.

Nothing in here that I didn't know except for the too brief introduction to the concept of Biogeograhy (I will investigate elsewhere), and too long for me to read, but I do like it. I like the mention of GPS and Geocaching. Includes index.

Highly recommended to the right readers, maybe age 8-13?

Manybooks wrote: "The World Made New: Why the Age of Exploration Happened and How It Changed the World

Educational, readable, balanced (but I actually would probably have enjoyed [book:The World Made ..."

I finished reading the library copy I checked out. I agreed with most of Manybooks' review above. However, I appreciated the many illustrations. Most of them were photographs of historic paintings or artwork made by indigenous people long ago, with explanatory captions. Included was a painting of a ship by N. C. Wyeth. There were also small maps scattered throughout, detailing the journeys and routes of the early explorers. Mini-biographies of the people mentioned in the book follow the conclusion page.

Beverly wrote: "Manybooks wrote: "The World Made New: Why the Age of Exploration Happened and How It Changed the World

Educational, readable, balanced (but I actually would probably have enjoyed [bo..."

I guess I often find that lots of illustrations tend to distract me a bit from reading.

I was disappointed in Mapping Penny's World:

The world map in the classroom is a bad projection, showing, for example, Greenland disproportionately large, and Africa not large enough. Most of Penny's maps are drawings, insufficiently abstract. We don't need a Key to tell us that the picture of a sock represents a sock! I can see this helping in a classroom, but I hope that there are better resources available to children and educators.

Cheryl wrote: "I was disappointed in Mapping Penny's World:

The world map in the classroom is a bad projection, showing, for example, Greenland disproportionately large, and Africa not large enough..."

And I also seem to remember that there is not a lot of explanatory materials for teachers available either, no activities etc.