Customer Reviews

Louisiana (A Guide to American States)

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I purchased this for the library back when it was first published, and in passing it, I always liked the COVER. (Nothing like "judging a book by it's COVER!") Today, I decided to open it up and read when it needed to be returned to the stacks. Page 17 states that "...Pierre Le Moyne founded a French settlement in what became Ocean Springs in 1699. This was the capital of the state until 1702..." I knew of an "Ocean Springs" in Mississippi and did not know of one that exists in Louisiana, so I searched to find that it was the one-and-only. It would be a good idea in the next edition to state that Ocean Springs is in Mississippi. Page 19 indicates "Biloxi became the first capital of the new Louisiana colony." Again, since this is a children's book, it would be wise to indicate BILOXI is located in Mississippi, there is no Biloxi, Louisiana.
Page 21 has an interesting revelation with regard to the (French) system of law still existing today:
"... while every other state in the nation follows the English common law system. The main difference between the two types of law is that judges in Louisiana rely on a system of written laws, while judges in other states are bound by the decisions made in earlier cases."
I also thought of interest to students who may not be aware, was the statement of the 64 parishes on page 21.
I was disappointed in the choice of the OLD black and white photo used for Mardi Gras on page 24, such a colourful festive holiday certainly merits a more colorful and more recent depiction.
Since this is pre-Katrina, Hurricane AUDREY was "the latest nemesis!"