Mapping Penny's World [Paperback]

Loreen Leedy (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2003 | Age Range: 5 - 8 years

Lisa and her dog, Penny, learn the basics of mapmaking in this delightful sequel to Measuring Penny

Lisa's class is learning how to make maps. The teacher says they can make maps of anyplace, so Lisa starts with her bedroom. She includes all the things that people will need to read the map, such as a scale and a key to the symbols she has used.

Her dog, Penny, helps with the map. This gives Lisa an idea: Why not map Penny's world? Making maps is so much fun that Lisa and Penny decide to visit some of the exotic places that they've drawn-but they won't forget to take a map along!

Now available in paperback, this engaging sequel to the bestselling Measuring Penny will delight teachers and students alike.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3-Lisa and her dog from Measuring Penny (Holt, 1998) are back. Since the girl's class is learning about maps, she decides to draw one of her bedroom and then makes a few for her Boston terrier. These maps show where the pet has hidden her toys and treats, the best route for a neighboring animal to take to their house, biking and hiking trails (Penny rides in the bike basket), and a 3-D map of places where the pup likes to play. Lisa explains terms such as "key," "scale," and "symbol," and introduces tools such as pedometers and odometers. The concepts are clear, and the digital-painting and photo-collage illustrations are uncluttered and ably clarify the text. However, one illustration of Penny looking through a fish tank superimposed on a picture of Lisa's room might be confusing to some young readers. While the animal seems less a fully realized pet than a device for introducing maps, readers will enjoy traveling with this duo and learn much in the process. Libraries will welcome this as a complement to other books that introduce spatial concepts such as Gail Hartman's As the Crow Flies (Aladdin, 1993) and Joan Sweeney's Me on the Map (Crown, 1996).
Louise L. Sherman, formerly at Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Lisa and her pet boxer, Penny, familiar to many youngsters from Measuring Penny (1998) return, this time discovering maps. After learning in school about maps and their parts--the key and symbols, labels, scale, and more--Lisa applies her newfound mapmaking skills to Penny's world. She makes maps of her room (which Penny shares), her yard (full of Penny's hiding places), the neighborhood (and the routes Penny's dog friends use when they visit), and the local park. As Lisa creates her maps, she explains their function and the tools she uses, such as a pedometer. She also includes a three-dimensional, clay-and-cardboard map and many drawings. Young readers will enjoy both Leedy's cheerful pictures and the narrative about Lisa and her engaging dog as they explore a familiar world from an unfamiliar perspective. Great for inspiring children to map their own world, putting a ruler to everything in sight. Catherine Andronik
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 5 - 8 years
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Square Fish; Reprint edition (August 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805072624
• ISBN-13: 978-0805072624
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,972 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've been writing and illustrating picture books for children for over twenty-five years. Though I majored in art in college, at the time I wasn't sure what kind of artist to be. Fortunately, it turned out that combining words and art to create picture books was a perfect career for me. Most of my books center around a particular topic such as fractions, the solar system, writing, and other math, science, and language arts curriculum content. The characters and story lines help to put the subject matter into a meaningful context for young readers.

After growing up mostly in Delaware, I moved to central Florida in the mid 1980s and currently live with my husband Andy on a three acre property with hawks, herons, and horses (the horses live next door.) We love the rustle of the pine needles in the breeze, the screeching of sandhill cranes flying overhead, and the chattering of many small birds that come and go as they please.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Example of Simple Map-Making August 21, 2003

By Blue Roses

Format:Hardcover

This book follows the path of a dog and the maps made of her neighborhood. These maps are very simple and easy to follow. They are straight forward and amazingly uncluttered. The legends help to show why they are so important in map-making. This is a wonderful guide to introduce children to maps and also to use as an "template" for creating your own maps.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars learn all about maps from a girl and her dog! December 7, 2004

By Melissa Sack VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

This book is a wonderful, colorful book that is very well written and is a great plot line.

Lisa's class at school is learning all about maps and how to use them. As a project Penny has to make a map of her own. Lisa maps out her world and the world of her dog Penny. Children are introduced to terms such as map title, key, symbols, compass rose and scale.

What did you like or not like about the book?

The pictures featuring the main character Lisa and her dog Penny are colorful and entertaining.

I would recommend this book to parents and teacher to share with children in grade 2-4. It's very useful tool in teaching basic geography.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for children April 2, 2013

By Joseph Provenzano

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Used this to help expose children to maps, well written and well illustrated. Would recommend to others seeking to spark interest in their children.

4.0 out of 5 stars Another side to Penny December 9, 2012

By MsCathy

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I first discovered the Penny series when I stumbled across Measuring Penny while looking for books for my preschool class that taught measuring concepts. It was so fabulous that I now have a library of Loreen Leedy's great books!

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect November 27, 2012

By E. Baer

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am a map maker and my niece has a boston terrier - this book could not be any more perfect for her to learn a few basics of cartography! I cant wait to give it to her. He is 4, so I think she will be entertained by all the pictures.

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific learning tool October 26, 2011

By M. Heiss

Format:Paperback

My kids are visual, visual, VISUAL. This book has enough ext to get the information through, and then TONS of examples to cement the concepts of map scale, and general map creation, in place. Fun, goofy illustrations make it fun.

As a mom, I look for concept books that get the learning across but ALSO work as a fun book -- once they are laughing, they are learning.

5.0 out of 5 stars Find That Boston Bull! April 17, 2011

By BeatleBangs1964 TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

What a lovely, colorful book about a delightful Boston bull named Penny and her young owner, who is in the early grades. Penny's owner is learning about maps and how to read them. Her Boston Penny has to make a map as well.

The project ends up being a map of the owner's immediate world and that of her beautiful Boston. Young readers learn map terminology and features that maps have. Ideal teaching tool and the little Boston adds her share of appeal!

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Subject, but Choppy Storyline September 14, 2009

By Jo2theD

Format:Paperback

The illustrations are so-so. I'm not the only one who thought Penny was a cat before actually reading that she is a Boston Terrier.

While the subject and idea of the book are needed in today's classroom and creatively approached, the storyline proves to be choppy, lacking flow and energy.