Capital!: Washington D.C. from A to Z [Paperback]

Laura Krauss Melmed (Author), Frane Lessac (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 26, 2006 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Welcome to our nation's Capital!

Take a guided tour through Washington, D.C.—home of American government, world-renowned museums, and famous memorials and monuments.

Visit Apollo 11, find out how Bills are printed, and see where Congress meets.

It's all right here, from A to Z!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5-A guide to Washington, DC, driven mostly successfully by the alphabet, with bright, folkloric illustrations that are reminiscent of Grandma Moses's work, and with enough detail to keep an incipient young tourist busy on a several-hour journey to the city. The letters are mostly presented on spreads, from A, Air and Space Museum, through X-Y-Z, National Zoo (a bit of a stretch, but these are always tough letters in abecedaries). Each spread offers not only the main illustrations, but also sidebars, cameos, and spots that extend the text. An interesting and timely juxtaposition in today's political climate is the H, the Holocaust Memorial Museum, with the I, the Islamic Center. Each spread has a jingly four-line verse. "G", for Gallaudet University, reads, "In eighteen hundred sixty-four,/President Lincoln signed a law/Providing higher education/For the nonhearing population." "A symphony, cool jazz, ballet,/An opera, or a children's play-/A feast for every taste and age/Awaits you here. Just pick a stage!" describes the Kennedy Center; and, slightly uncomfortably, the verse for the FBI reads, "Who searches for the Ten Most Wanted/And faces terrorists, undaunted?" While these introductions don't contribute much, the accompanying captions for the art offer dates, trivia, and engrossing historical tidbits. Couple this title with Lynn Curlee's Capital (Atheneum, 2003) for a lively, in-depth study of the District.
Dona Ratterree, New York City Public Schools
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 3. Vibrant gouache paintings with a folk-art look dominate this alphabetical tour of our nation's capital. From the Air and Space Museum to the National Zoo, the illustrations show tourists captivated by the history and beauty of Washington, D.C. Short paragraphs in tiny print expand on sights in the pictures, while a pedestrian four-line verse opens each alphabetical topic. For example, the double-page spread for the letter C features the facade of the capitol building plus interior views of the Senate and House, with short descriptions of the function of each. The alphabet structure results in a variety of choices, from such destinations as the Lincoln Memorial to places that could easily be missed--for example, Q Street. More extended than Roxie Munro's almost wordless Inside-Outside Book of Washington, D.C. (2001), this attractive offering will find its main audience among parents and teachers introducing D.C. to children. Kids old enough to read the small print may be more inclined to look for books with more information. Kathleen Odean
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Collins (December 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006113614X
• ISBN-13: 978-0061136146
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #917,902 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, January 30, 2009

By 

Bonotang "Bono" (NJ) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Capital!: Washington D.C. from A to Z (Hardcover)

It is an OK book, but not as good as New York City from A to Z.