Me on the Map [Hardcover]

Joan Sweeney (Author), Annette Cable (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: March 19, 1996

Illustrated in full color. In this playful introduction to maps and geography, step by simple step, a young girl shows readers herself on a map of her room, her room on the map of her house, her house on the map of her street--all the way to her country on a map of the world. Once the reader is familiar with the maps, she demonstrates how readers can find their own country, state, and town--all the way back to their room--on each colorful map. Easy-to-read text, bright artwork, and charming details give children a lot to search for and will have them eager to help navigate on the next family vacation.  

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Simplifying the abstract nature of maps, Sweeney encourages the cartographer in every child. Step by step, moving from a personal to a global scale, a girl explains what maps are by giving clear, easily grasped examples. First, standing in a cheerful bedroom, she tells readers, "This is me in my room." On the facing page, she has drawn herself in a childlike overview layout of her bedroom. "This is me on the map of my room," she says, proudly. Next, a framed painting of her house is faced by a blueprint "map" of her house. The pattern continues throughout the book, with scenic views (a picture of her town, an impression of her state, a Steinberg-esque vision of the U.S.) followed by maps of each area. Debut artist Cable's clear, crisp renderings show a wealth of detail on the scenic illustrations, while her creative progression of maps includes handmade examples, a souvenir state map, an elementary classroom map of the country and, finally, a "flat" map of the world. An admirable effort, and one that kids will enjoy replicating. Ages 3-7.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-2?A nameless child introduces the world of cartography. Using the premise that simple drawings can be maps, the book begins with crayon drawings of the floor plans of the girl's room and house. The concept becomes progressively more complex, as her horizons expand from home to street, to town, to state, to country, and finally to the world. Colorful illustrations show a composite of the entire area that is being charted on the facing page. On each successive page, the child points out her street, hometown, state, and country. The process then reverses as she finds the U.S. on a world map and works back down the scale to her own room again. The text concludes with the statement that "...everybody has their own special place on the map." Not an essential purchase, but one that could be useful for teaching basic skills at the primary level.?Eldon Younce, Harper Elementary School, KS
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers; 1st edition (March 19, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517700956
• ISBN-13: 978-0517700952
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 9.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #897,855 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple text inspires days of fun, family activities August 5, 2000

By IdeaMom

Format:Paperback

My four year son and I love this book. I used this book and the mapping activities it inspires to teach my son our address. We basically recreated this book with all of its maps to establish my child's very special place on the map (his bedroom, our home, our street, our town, our state, etc.)

If you like this book, try also: Me and My Family Tree.

46 of 48 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great introduction to maps & communities for primary ages May 25, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

In all my years as an elementary school librarian, this has to be the best introduction to maps that I have seen for primary grades. It is written at a 1.7 reading level, which makes it accessible to first through third grades. In our school, the third grade teachers do a unit on communities, and this title ties in beautifully with that.

I like the way Joan Sweeney starts with, "This is me" and builds the concept through "my room," "my house," "my street," and on to town, state, country and the world. Then she goes backwards until she concludes with "...everybody has their own special place on the map. Just like me."

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for Classrooms! December 13, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Library Binding

This book is a great one to share in the classroom as an introduction to mapping. It begins with a girl making a map of her room, her house, her street, etc. Followup activities in the classroom that work well are mapping a student's room, house, classroom, and school.