Hammond My 1st Atlas (Hammond Kids Atlases) [Paperback]

Hammond World Atlas Corporation (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2004 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Hammond Kids Atlases

This all new, colorful softcover atlas provides a wonderful introduction to the world, its peoples, habitats , costumes and dwellings to young learners.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Since 2000. Hammond, American Map, Langenscheidt Dictionaries, Insight travel Guides, Delorme - the famous names in the Langenscheidt family. These represent the most authoritative, up-to-date, and extensive travel and reference products available. In January 2003, the renowned Berlitz Publishing became part of the Langenscheidt Group. The Langenscheidt Publishing Group, the premier group of map and travel companies, offers over 4,000 North American and international street maps, road maps, atlases. language-learning, bilingual dictionaries, and travel-related products covering countries, cities, and languages in every continent.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Hammond World Atlas Corporation (September 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0843719753
• ISBN-13: 978-0843719758
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,249,448 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Reference & Nonfiction > Atlases

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-planned, well-produced book perfect for young kids, June 21, 2007

By 

amanooensis (Flyover Country) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hammond My 1st Atlas (Hammond Kids Atlases) (Paperback)

If you have shopped for things like this, you may have become stupefied by the number of books claiming to be an "atlas" or "geography book" for younger kids. In my view, this is a great book to have on hand for any kids who are in the early stages of learning about geography.

I would estimate that as covering ages ranging from 5 to 7, and possibly as low as age 4. The reason I wouldn't extend the range further is that, before preschool, most kids might not care about the specifics of land forms and so on. The book is "simplified" in visual terms, but its tone is more informational than the typical preschool book.

Conversely, by the time kids get to second or third grade -- and sometimes earlier -- they are being asked to grapple with geographic issues of a more concrete and specific nature. Since this book is mostly just an introduction, as the title suggests, it may become superfluous as soon as the child starts getting quizzed on things like state capitals, or other hardcore geographic data.

But in between, there is a great need for books that offer kids an easy transition into understanding the world they live in. And I think this book is perfect. For instance, its visual style shows continents in a way that is less precise than a genuine atlas, but more precise than a cartoonish illustration, or a "stuffed pillow" globe that one might put in a baby's crib.

By juxtaposing illustrations and captions with its maps, the book shows the relation of people, animals, cultures, climate, and so on -- without overloading the reader with too much data. Again, it does a great job of simply introducing these topics and concepts, so that the reader will be ready for more specific learning later on.

Interesting enough for kids to browse through alone, good for kids who can read somewhat independently, and even better when shared with a grownup who can not only read the text, but also help interpret the illustrations through the filter of personal experience.

Really, this is a great approach for this topic, in this age range. A worthy addition to any young child's library, especially if one can get the promotional pricing that Amazon is offering at the time I write this. Highly recommended.