Louisiana (America the Beautiful, Second) [Library Binding]

Martin Hintz (Author), Deborah Kent (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1998 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: America the Beautiful, Second

Describes the history, geography, ecology, people, economy, cities, and sights of the Pelican State of Louisiana.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7?Completely rewritten and updated, these books contain a wealth of information useful for school reports, vacation planning, or simply armchair traveling. Several chapters on the history of the state begin each book; sections on geography, government and politics, the economy, diversity of the population, education, arts and leisure, famous citizens, and museums and historical sites follow. Colorful photos, maps, drawings, and archival reproductions are well integrated into the clearly written texts. The numerous sidebars are new to this edition and cover everything from historical figures to El Ni?o to Louisiana hot sauce. Words to the state song and one recipe are included in each book, along with a two-page spread detailing the state symbols. Each volume ends with a time line comparing state and national events and a "Fast Facts" section. Excellent choices for both public and school libraries for those perennial state reports. These volumes are longer and contain more information than the "From Sea to Shining Sea" series (Children's).?Terrie Dorio, Santa Monica Public Library, CA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Library Binding: 144 pages
• Publisher: Children's Press (CT) (September 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0516206346
• ISBN-13: 978-0516206349
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,565,700 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An informative look at the colorful Pelican State, March 31, 2005

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Louisiana (America the Beautiful, Second) (Library Binding)

Louisiana may well be the most exotic of the continental United States, mainly on the strength of the French Quarter in New Orleans and the Creole culture. I can remember being in New Orleans one November watching a political ad on the television where one candidate was pointing out his opponent was a convicted felon and I was wondering how on Earth a convicted felon could run for public office and then I remembered I was in Louisiana, home of the "Kingfish" and other rather unique politicians. Martin Hintz's look at "Louisiana" for the America the Beautiful, Second Series, covers these aspects of the Pelican state and more.

Chapter One, "Hello to Louisiana," describes the state as "old and new, raucous and reflective," and a place that has plenty of everything. The next three chapters detail the history of Louisiana, beginning with Chapter Two, "Louisiana Is Born." Here young readers find out about the Mound Builders who originally settled the South and then the arrival of the European explorers. This chapter also covers the Louisiana Purchase and how the territory eventually became the 18th state in 1812. Chapter Three, "Louisiana Faces Challenges," begins with the Battle of New Orleans, covers the Civil War, and ends with the aftermath of Reconstruction. Chapter Four, "History's Later Chapters," covers more than the 20th century, but the emphasis is on the unique politics of the state, where both Huey P. Long and David Duke were key figures.

The interesting geography of the state is covered by Hintz in Chapter Five, "Louisiana's Low-Lying Land." Much of the state was once covered by the Gulf of Mexico and what exists today is related to that history. Chapter Six, "Louisiana's Ethereal Cities," looks at the special flavors of each section of the state, from Cajun Country to the Big Easy. "Politics in the Pelican State" is covered in Chapter Seven, which explains the parish system and covers all of the state symbols, including both state songs ("You Are My Sunshine" and "Give Me Louisiana") and the state musical instrument (Diatonic accordion).

The economy of Louisiana is the subject of Chapter Eight, "Business is Business," where the Port of New Orleans features the world's longest continuous cargo complex but the state also produces lots of hot sauce, strawberries, and alligators (not that you would combine those for eating purposes: the recipe in the book is for red beans and rice). Chapter Nine, "Louisiana: A People Place," covers the diverse traditions in the state represented by the Creoles, Acadians, African-Americans, Germans and Swiss, Italians, Spanish and Hispanics, Asians, and Irish. Chapter Ten, "Culture Everywhere," is where Hintz gets to talk about Jazz and Blues music, Mardi Gras, "A Streetcar Named Desire," and the Superdome.

The back of the book includes a detailed Timeline contrasting U.S. and Louisiana state history and pages of Fast Facts. There is also a list of books, organizations, and Internet sites where young readers can go To Find Out More. The book is replete with full-color photographs and maps. My favorite parts have become the sidebars, where we get to find out about famous people, from "Beast" Butler to Rap Star Master P, places, like New Iberia and the Old State Capitol, and things, such as the Mississippi Steamboats and the state's salt domes. Young students will find a lot of information about each state in each volume of this series, and with over 50 states and territories, teachers can assign every student in their class a different state to research.