My Map Book [Hardcover]

Sara Fanelli (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

In each spread of this bold and humorous picture book, available for the first time since 1995, children can examine their place in the world around them through detailed and engaging maps. Twelve beautifully illustrated maps such as Map of My Day and Map of My Tummy will fascinate children. When finished reading the book, children can unfold the jacket -- it turns into a poster-size map!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In non-narrative form, Fanelli (Button) challenges the concept of "map" as she earnestly demonstrates that places aren't the only things that can be charted. Exploring everyday aspects of a child's world, the author mixes the expected, such as "Map of My Neighborhood," with more conceptual subjects: "Map of My Family," "Map of My Day," "Map of My Heart" and even "Map of My Dog." In some ways, the volume resembles a kit: the dust jacket unfolds, revealing a poster of the contents, and empty areas on most spreads encourage readers to personalize the book (on "Map of My Tummy," space is reserved under the heading "my favorite foods"). Fanelli's abstract, mixed-media art includes heavy, blended oil pastels, waxy crayon lettering and snippings from printed matter. Fields of rich color and easygoing disregard of perspective make the work seem approachable and sophisticated at the same time. Ultimately, Fanelli frames a sort of Everychild existence, and although she suggests that her mapmaker is a specific character (with, for example, a sister and a pet dog), she welcomes outsiders' interactions-and possible contradictions. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3-A truly unusual offering. There is no story, per se; the book consists of a series of naive, mixed-media, double-page maps that tell a great deal about a child's internal and external life. Fanelli starts with a treasure map, but quickly moves to more familiar territory with "My Bedroom" and "My Family." Activities of a typical day?breakfast, school, lunch, playground, home, supper, story time, and dreams?are divided by broadly painted bands of color. The map of "My Neighborhood" is perhaps the most straightforward, showing home in relation to school, the river, and the playground. Others range from "My Heart" (the child's parents are there, as well as sunny days and chocolate) to "My Face" and "My Dog." The cover unfolds to a poster-sized map with a list of items to find and questions to answer. The other side provides a canvas for "My Own Map," inviting readers to take off on personal explorations. An imaginative, child-centered title that should be examined and enjoyed, and one that will also make a wonderful springboard for teachers introducing the concepts of mapping or autobiography.?Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperFestival (July 20, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060264551
• ISBN-13: 978-0060264550
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 11.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,142 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #77 in Books > Children's Books > Education & Reference > Careers
  • #85 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Social Skills

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous for teaching the trait of organization., October 11, 1999

By 

Vicki Spandel ([e-mail]) (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Map Book (Hardcover)

This amazing and irresistable book shows that maps are conceptual and visual organizers--and that they enable us to organize so much more than geographic space. Through the imagination of this remarkable young writer, we see how mapping can be used to teach young reader/writers the very concept of mapping--or of organizing ideas. Sara maps her favorite and dearest people and treasures--in the map of her heart. She maps her day, in thinking how we spend our time. She maps her stomach--what she loves to eat, and what's in there to please mom. These and other maps in the collection provide a wonderfully creative leaping off point for writing activities that involve mapping--activities even the youngest writers can handle. Everyone can map his/her face, desk, room, or day. Labels and written text can be used to enrich the writing, but they're not essential. It's easy to use and it's stimulating, too. This book should be in the classroom of every teacher K-5. Students LOVE it (so do adults), and the wealth of engaging writing activities it suggests makes it an excellent investment. How often do children get to see books written by other children? We can only hope Sara will write more! I recommend this book to every teacher and parent I talk or work with.

Vicki Spandel Director, Write Traits Portland, Oregon

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful maps from a child's point of view!, September 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: My Map Book (Hardcover)

This is a marvelous book that inspires creative map makers in the classroom. Students love to share what their hearts would hold in them if they were drawn out as a map. Sarah's map of her dog is so fun!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for teachers (or anyone else), November 6, 2006

By 

Jessica Walker (Fairbanks, Alaska) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: My Map Book (Hardcover)

I'm a third grade teacher and I used this book in my mapping unit. It shows children that there are different kinds of maps (besides the usual kinds). The book includes maps of: the heart, a child's bedroom, the dog, and other items you would not have imagined!