Customer Reviews

Hammond My 1st Atlas (Hammond Kids Atlases)

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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.