Alaska

April 1, 2007
Gr 4-7-This book blends poetry, factual paragraphs, and silly "Cheechako [outsider] tips" ("Stay upwind from whales: they exhale what Alaskans call 'fish farts'") to cover Alaska's history, economy, and nature. The writing is clear and informative, and the author's love of Alaska is infectious. She writes in an inviting, informal way that is never dry even when listing facts and numbers. She talks about bears on one page and an oil spill on the next without losing that tone. Topics are covered over single spreads, and there is no index or table of contents. On each spread, one photo fills both sides, with smaller insets and text placed over it. The subjects of the photographs are stunning, but the material overlaid on them can be distracting, and though they are generally of high quality, some are grainy. Overall, while the content is worthy, the book suffers from a poor layout."Amelia Jenkins, Juneau Public Library, AK"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2007
Gill, who wrote " Up on Denali: Alaska's Wild Mountain" (2006), and photographer Endres offer glimpses of their home state. A variety of topics are briefly covered. A typical double-page spread features a large illustration, one or two small ones, a four-line rhyming verse, and a few short paragraphs of prose. The colorful photographs show aspects of the state's geography, geology, climate, history, wildlife, native peoples, and cities. The main text succinctly discusses subjects such as the " Exxon Valdez" disaster, the state's volcanoes, and the coming of spring to Alaska's interior. Loosely organized around the changing seasons, the presentation seems scattershot, as many of the topics are not seasonal. Tips for a "Cheechako" (newcomer), offered on most pages, are sometimes facts or advice and sometimes jokes, making this feature seem unreliable as an information source. Still, readers with an interest in Alaska will pick up information about this unusual state while enjoying the many fine photos. For larger collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)