What's Great about Washington?

April 1, 2015

Gr 3-5-In an innovative change from most state sets, these books are lively travel guides to each state's top 10 kid-friendly places. They cover an eclectic mix of historic sites such as the Ingallses's South Dakota homestead, museums, and science centers, scenic natural wonders, and popular culture favorites such as theme parks, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and iconic stops along Route 66. The authors incorporate information about state history and geography in their descriptions, which include tips on what to do, see, and eat. Sidebars add information about people, animals, and geographical themes. Full-page color photos and smaller photo overlays are outstanding. National, state and locator maps are a plus. VERDICT These books won't replace traditional report material, but they introduce kids to the magic of travel and offer them a look at some of the United States's most interesting places.

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2015
Grades 2-5 Kids looking for breezy introductions to U.S. states, either for reports or vacation inspiration, will have their curiosity piqued by titles in the Our Great States series, which offer snappy rundowns of 10 family-friendly things to do in each state. What's Great about Washington? suggests visitors to the Evergreen State go to the mountains, the rain forest, and a salmon hatchery dedicated to conserving the wild salmon population in the Pacific Northwest. Each location appears on a two-page spread with accessible text, which often sounds like a travel brochure, along with plenty of full-color, large-scale photos. Though the information is far from comprehensive, the browser-friendly format and attention-grabbing topic might make this a good gateway resource for reluctant readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)