Our California [Paperback]

Pam Munoz Ryan (Author), Rafael Lopez (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2008 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Re-illustrated and re-designed, Our California is a lively tour of award-winning author Pam Munoz Ryan's home state. Spirited poems celebrate California's major cities and regions. Backmatter includes state symbols and additional information about each place. Bold paintings by illustrator Rafael Lopez capture the spirit of the land.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1–4—The art in this loving tribute to the state is so colorful, evocative, and eye-filling that it is tempting to review the title solely as a book of pictures. The text takes the form of brief, undistinguished four-line verses that highlight some interesting features in the 14 locales, or give reasons for their historical or current importance. Some of the places are well known (such as San Francisco and Los Angeles) and some will be less familiar to children outside California (such as the Channel Islands and Eureka). The illustrations, done in brilliant acrylics, fill each spread with a burst of folkloric color and energy. The Capistrano swallows, the Forty-Niners in Coloma, the whales and otters along the coast—all are shown. The back matter includes an illustrated spread featuring the state flag, bird, insect, plant, and so on. Further information on all of the places shown is also appended. This book may not be adequate for reports, but it is a wonderful way to show children the spirit of California, and it could also be useful for families planning vacations.—Marian Drabkin, formerly at Richmond Public Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Pam Munoz Ryan is the author of many books including The Flag We Love and Esperanza Rising (Scholastic), winner of the Pura Belpre Award. Pam lives in Leucadia, California.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing (January 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580891179
• ISBN-13: 978-1580891172
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 10 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #884,063 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

PAM Muñoz Ryan is the author of more that thirty books for young readers, including four beloved novels, Riding Freedom, Esperanza Rising, Becoming Naomi León, and Paint the Wind, which collectively have garnered, among countless accolades, the Pura Belpré Medal, the Jane Addams Award, and the Schneider Family Award. She lives in Southern California with her family. You can visit her at www.PamMunozRyan.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for Classroom use, October 27, 2009

By 

A. Ellery "Swim Mom" (Santa Clarita, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Our California (Hardcover)

Beautiful Illustrations, nice descriptions of different areas in California. This would go perfectly with the 4th grade curriculum about state history, but I used it in third grade to talk about our local history and area.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful!, February 22, 2008

By 

Gen - See all my reviews

This review is from: Our California (Hardcover)

A beautiful book with rhyme and illustrations that pop! An educational tool as well since in the back there are facts about Ca- state flower etc. A winner!