L Is for Last Frontier: An Alaska Alphabet (Discover America State by State) [Hardcover]

Carol Crane (Author), Michael G. Monroe (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 13, 2002 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: Discover America State by State

One of our country's most unique national treasures is our great state of Alaska. The 49th state of the union is a land of many wondrous vistas, home to distinctive wildlife, and a locality with interesting historical facts woven into its culture. In this charming pictorial, Crane and Monroe have successfully captured the essence of the land of the midnight sun, and have created a solid teaching tool for children of all ages.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Carol Crane has written 14 books for Sleeping Bear Press, including the best-selling P is for Pilgrim: A Thanksgiving Alphabet. As a children's literature advocate, Carol travels across the country, speaking at schools and many conferences. She makes her home in North Carolina.

Award-winning wildlife artist Michael Glenn Monroe began his career at a very young age. A self-taught painter, Michael spends his time meticulously honing his craft, often teaching himself many new and unique techniques to add to his paintings. Michael began his publishing career with Sleeping Bear Press in 1999 when both Buzzy the Bumblebee and M is for Mitten: A Michigan Alphabet were released. His knowledge and experience with landscapes and wildlife were a perfect match for Mitten, as well as subsequent state alphabet titles (S is for Sunshine: A Florida Alphabet and L is for Last Frontier: An Alaska Alphabet). Michael and his wife, Colleen, share a home in Brighton, Michigan, with their three children, twins Matthew and Natalie and John, born in May 2001.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press; 1 edition (March 13, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585360201
• ISBN-13: 978-1585360208
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 11.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #589,914 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great illustrations, interesting content, September 17, 2008

By 

Judy K. Polhemus "Book Collector" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: L Is for Last Frontier: An Alaska Alphabet (Discover America State by State) (Hardcover)

Writer Carol Crane and illustrator Michael Glenn Monroe produced a fabulous alphabet book of Alaska in the Discover America State by State Alphabet Series. As school librarian, I feel compelled now to get the entire set if all are as good as this one. One of our teachers requested this book for an Alaska unit and we are both delighted!

The book is set up for two age groups: little ones, 4-8, with a little verse and beautiful illustrations that demonstrate the verse; and older children, 9-12, with the sidebars for more information pertaining to each letter and topic.

"A is for Alaska Natives
remembering their ancestor's way.
Fishing, trapping, hunting, and whaling,
living on a great land today."

The double page spread shows two Natives, standing on ice floes, catching fish with spears. The side bars tell us that they have creation stories, what they make their canoes, spears, clothing out of. We learn about their artistic style, totem poles, spiritual symbols, and celebrations.

Alaska is home to all three bears that live in the United States: brown/grizzly, black, and polar. Cranberries grow wild in Alaska!! That was a shocker!! The Alaska flag was created through a contest won by a 13-year-old Native American boy.

Alaska has glaciers, King Salmon which can find their way to exactly the place they were born to lay/fertilize eggs and die, that Northern Lights are a "shimmering night time show," and that Ptarmigan (birds) can dive into the snow and be warm, cozy, and safe from enemies. Even though the tundra is full of life, it is a frozen terrain in the winter and considered a "cold desert."

Another shocker is the size of vegetables that grow during growing season. The Yukon River was a source of gold for gold diggers back in the day. Juneau, the state capital, can be reached only by airplane or boat! No roads lead to Juneau.

The book concludes with a quiz and short bibliography.

"L is for Last Frontier: An Alaskan Alphabet" is a must-have book if you are interested in an alphabet of facts about the state. Or find the book which addresses your state. This series is a winner--or 26 winners!

5.0 out of 5 stars Alphabet Series, February 7, 2010

By 

Robert H. Trent "Robert" (kansas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: L Is for Last Frontier: An Alaska Alphabet (Discover America State by State) (Hardcover)

Have given several in this series. WONDERFUL learning tools about the states. Kids and adults alike will enjoy these.

5.0 out of 5 stars Love these books, October 1, 2008

By 

April J. Carman (Richland, WA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: L Is for Last Frontier: An Alaska Alphabet (Discover America State by State) (Hardcover)

We bought a number of books in this series - the Alaska one (where daddy grew up and where grandma and grandpa live), the Colorado one (same thing for mommy's side) and the Washington one (where we live now). We love them all and even though they are probably aimed at kids just above my son's age, he still requests them a lot and we talk about the places we have been in the books. I highly recommend them and use them as gifts quite often.