Illinois from A to Z [Hardcover]

Betty Kay (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: 3 and up

Learning about Illinois history is as easy as ABC with this lively, attractive, alphabetical tour of the state. Pairing brief, informative statements with photographs and drawings of their subjects, "Illinois from A to Z" includes profiles of important Illinois residents, from inventor John Deere to scientist Enrico Fermi and from poet Gwendolyn Brooks to entrepreneur Ray Kroc. Betty Carlson Kay highlights historical events, such as the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition and the tragic Hay market Riot of 1886. She introduces the Illiniwek tribe, for whom the state was named, and the canals and waterways that connect the Chicago and Mississippi Rivers with Lake Michigan.She also describes key social projects, such as Jane Addams' Hull-House and the orphan trains that carried tens of thousands of poor, homeless children from the East Coast to new homes in the Midwest. Readers will learn that Illinois was the first state east of the Mississippi to grant women the right to vote for the president and local officials (although they had to use separate ballots and ballot boxes); that each car of the original Ferris wheel could hold sixty people; that Illinois has the largest known bituminous coal reserves in the United States; and that the epithet 'The Windy City' originally referred not to the weather but to the boasting of Chicagoans about the 1893 world's fair. Clearly written and generously illustrated, "Illinois from A to Z" is a charming introduction to the movers and shakers who have shaped Illinois as well as to the state's history and geography.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Aimed at ages 9-12, the book takes an alphabetic approach to all things Illinoian, from Jane Addams, bituminous coal and Chicago to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the yield from Illinois farms and some of the various state zoos. 'L,' of course, stands for Abraham Lincoln." -- State Journal-Register ADVANCE PRAISE "This introduction to Illinois history will take you all the way from A (for Jane Addams) to Z (Chicago's Lincoln Park has the oldest zoo in the United States). Kay's clean, factual style gets straight to the point, just the way young readers and listeners like it. The book design is attractive, and the historical photographs alone are worth the price of admission." -- Betsy Hearne, author of Choosing Books for Children "Illinois from A to Z is a delight to the senses. Once again, Betty Kay demonstrates her skills as a writer and educator. This is simply the best introduction to Illinois history for elementary and middle school students." -- Thomas F. Schwartz, Illinois State Historian

Product Details

• Hardcover: 72 pages
• Publisher: University of Illinois Press (September 29, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0252025407
• ISBN-13: 978-0252025402
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,130,808 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More Illinois Pride, March 30, 2001

By 

Sarah Bolen (Greenville, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Illinois from A to Z (Hardcover)

Want a quick way to introduce the wonders of the state that produced our most well-known and beloved president? Illinois From A to Z is the way to do it. Covering the state from all directions, Betty Carlson Kay shows off the state of Illinois in all of its glorious dimensions. There is more to the Prairie State than the adult home of Abraham Lincoln, but you will appreciate why he chose to make his home and career here as well as see how the state has grown and matured into a figure for world attention. Who would like this book? Children of all ages with a healthy curiosity will be captivated by the creative format and information. TEACHER ALERT! You must have this book on your shelf if you teach primary grades in the state of Illinois.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic for young and old, September 30, 2009

By 

jns (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Illinois from A to Z (Hardcover)

This book is great! I checked it out for my third grader, and I'm sitting at the kitchen table reading it cover to cover. Important topics in Illinois/Chicago history are covered simply, concisely, in two pages. The only thing missing is a timeline. Given the nature of A to Z, the author naturally has to jump around historically. Also, I think I would have put John Deere in the yield section (farming) and given Du Sable the letter "D." But that's just me.

A: Jane Addams Hull House
B: Bituminous Coal
C: Chicago
D: John Deere
E: Exposition (World's Columbian Exposition of 1893)
F: Enrico Fermi
G: Ulysses S. Grant
H: Haymarket Riot
I: Illiniwek
J: Louis Jolliet
K: Ray Kroc (McD Franchise founder)
L: Abraham Lincoln
M: Mounds
N: New Salem
O: Orphan Trains
P: Poets
Q: Quilts
R: River
S: Springfield
T: Team Sports
U: Underground Railroad
V: Voting Rights
W: Frank Lloyd Wright
X: EXchange
Y: Yield
Z: Zoos