The United States of America: A State-by-State Guide [Paperback]

Millie Miller (Author), Cyndi Nelson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2006 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: United States Of America

This portable state-by-state guide, superbly illustrated in watercolor, identifies each state's official state bird, flower, and insect along with other fun facts and points of interest.

This book exhibits all of the diversity of the American states even as it ties the country into one awesome entity. The authors' inclusion of endangered species, biographical sketches on the famous Americans from each state, inventions, resources, records, and so much more make this a unique and multi-dimensional work. But it is the art and the treatment of the information that makes this book so special. With a light-handed, fresh approach, and tremendous respect for their subject, the author-artists succeed in painting a truly beautiful portrait of America.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Grade 3-5-This browser's scrapbook presents impressionistic portraits of the states arranged in alphabetical order with Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, and a spread of state flags appended. A large, lightly labeled map provides the visual center for each page, around which are arrayed handsomely painted vignettes illustrating fact snippets that range from state birds, trees, and population (as of 1998) to prominent landforms, citizens, and endangered species. The states are all colored green, which gives the book visual unity at the expense of strict accuracy, and many of the facts have been pared down to dry generalities: "Pirates terrorized the Carolina coast in 1717-1718," "Homemade quilts, clothes, and furniture are traditional [in West Virginia]," etc. The method behind the authors' selection of information is sometimes unclear (only 17 Presidents are mentioned); the index, which includes a listing for "Paul Bunyon" [sic] and page references for 53 state birds, is of doubtful quality; and there are no lists of sources or resources for readers who want to find out more. Still, children compiling their own scrapbooks might start here.
John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Reference (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439827655
• ISBN-13: 978-0439827652
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,476 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Reference & Nonfiction > Atlases
  • #3 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > United States > State & Local
  • #9 in Books > Children's Books > Education & Reference > Atlases

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for learning about the states of the U. S., June 2, 2006

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: State-by-State Guide (United States Of America) (Hardcover)

This is an excellent book for young children to learn about the states. A topographical map of each state is given along with diagrams and text explaining various facts about the state. Items like the state bird, state flower, state insect, state tree, endangered species in the state, primary crops, unusual natural features, famous people and other points of historical significance. I strongly recommend it for social studies classes or just for quizzes among family members.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Primary-level Resource, November 21, 2008

By 

K. Beach "KRB" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The United States of America: A State-by-State Guide (Paperback)

My wife is currently a third grade teacher and I used to be one. Recently, she was tasked with a new set of social studies learning targets that include "regions of the United States" (something more frequently taught to slightly older students). We were having difficulty finding age/ability-appropriate resources for her class until she came across a copy of Miller and Nelson's "State by State". She asked me what I thought of it and "paydirt" was the word that came to mind. So we ordered additional copies from Amazon and they fit the bill nicely.

Bottom line: for students in the late second to early fourth grades, "State by State" is an interesting, meaningful, and fun-to-use learning resource. It is also an amazingly good value, which helps when a teacher needs to purchase several copies on her/his own coin. Five stars!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource, December 12, 2007

By 

N. Beaumont (Vernon Hills, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The United States of America: A State-by-State Guide (Paperback)

We bought this for our son, who is in 1st grade, when he had to report on a state for school. He loves the book and is enjoying reading all the facts about each state. The pictures keep him interested and the facts are both standard and eclectic so everyone in our family learned something new from this book. It is also simple enough for him to read on his own. I would highly recommend this book for any elementary school student wishing to learn more about the states.