The Young People's Atlas of the United States [Hardcover]

James Harrison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1996 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Youngsters will embark on an exciting and educational journey of the United States through the pages of this information-packed atlas. Over 250 full-color photos and drawings illuminate the informative text. A double-page spread is devoted to each state, featuring information on each state's geography, history, major cities, people, industry, and agriculture. A fact box offers important statistics and shows each state flower, bird, and tree.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-- An attractive but superficial examination of the United States. Regions and individual states are covered in two-page spreads that include a brief text randomly profiling the area's history, economy, and natural features; a fact box with basic statistics; full-color photographs and illustrations of state symbols; short biographical sketches of important people; and relief and locator maps. The overall design and layout are appealing, and the basic statistics given are current (1990 census). However, the maps of each state provide minimal detail--only a few cities, rivers, mountain ranges, national parks, and interstate highways are labeled. Additionally, the U. S. map and five of the six regional maps are printed in the middle of two-page spreads and a significant amount of the image is lost in the gutter (unless you crack the spine to flatten it out). The illustrations of the maps and state symbols are by the same artists who did the Doubleday Atlas of the United States of America (Doubleday, 1990), and the overall design is quite similar (both titles are copyrighted by Grisewood and Dempsey). Once again, this is an instance of the same basic information being slightly redesigned and repackaged. The major differences between the two titles are in currency of population figures and in organization. This newer book contains no textual or cartographic information that cannot be found in the World Book Encyclopedia (1990), the Worldmark Encyclopedia of the States (1981), or Facts about the States (Wilson, 1989). However, because of its visual appeal, currency , and logical organization, it may be useful for libraries that need reference tools for assignments of the "name the symbols and population" variety.
- Lauren L. Mayer, New York Public Library
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"I asked my 9-year-old to comment on this atlas. Here are his remarks: 'It's informative, it's easy to use, and it gives lots of facts. I like the way it's divided into sections on the whole US, then groups of states, then the states themselves.' Now if I might add my two bits: the introduction is aimed right at the intended readership, as is the guide to using the book. In each double spread, the eye is drawn to the attractive map, and to the boxed facts about each state, flag on top, right where it should be. User-friendly and (dare I say it?) cool."—Children's Literature

"This book consists of double-page spreads showing the U.S., six regions of the country, and each individual state. Oversize pages emphasize text and pictures; the relief maps occupy one-half page or less. The maps show interstate highways, major rivers, large cities, and significant natural features. The distance scale of each map is given in miles and kilometers . . . A small relief map of the U.S. shows the featured state in red. State birds, trees, and flowers are pictured, and the fact box lists such items as capitol, area, population, statehood date, highest point, motto, and title of state song. State nicknames are used as running heads on the pages of the book A brief essay of two or three paragraphs in length discusses the state's location, history, economy, natural phenomena, and cities. Also included for each state are captioned pictures or drawings of persons, events, or features important to the area. For instance, the New Jersey entry highlights the Atlantic City boardwalk, the Delaware River, Bell Telephone Laboratories, the opossum, the Meadowlands, Batsto Mill, and Princeton University . . . The index includes entries for the place-names from the maps, as well as for some of the information in the text This is an attractive, browsable source, with inviting page layouts that will appeal to students from the fifth grade up . . . The authors are writers and editors, rather than geographers . . . Much of the information typically available in atlases is not here, for example, maps of population, climate, economy, products, natural resources, or an overview of geography.  The Young People's Atlas is similar in format and price to both the Rand McNally Children's Atlas of the United States and the Doubleday Atlas of the United States of America, although [this book] contains more information than Rand McNally, more pictures than Doubleday, and is written for a somewhat older audience than either of those."—Booklist

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Kingfisher; Revised edition (September 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753450224
• ISBN-13: 978-0753450222
• Product Dimensions: 13.6 x 10.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #858,747 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #100 in Books > Children's Books > Education & Reference > Atlases