Book Description

Continuing our acclaimed Discover America State by State series is "P is for Potato: An Idaho Alphabet."This title explores the lush land and rich history of a state too often overlooked.Kids of all ages wil love the A to Z rhymes boasting about all the treasures found within Idaho's borders- from the Appaloosa steed to the zinc mines to Mount Borah, to, you knew we couldn't forget it, the potato.But after a few pages readers will also allow peregrine, Union Pacific, Quinceanera, Nex Perce, and other Idaho icons to share in the spotlight. ... Read more

Book Description

1793, Philadelphia. The nation"s capital and the largest city in North America is devastated by an apparently incurable disease, cause unknown . . .
In a powerful, dramatic narrative, critically acclaimed author Jim Murphy describes the illness known as yellow fever and the toll it took on the city"s residents, relating the epidemic to the major social and political events of the day and to 18th-century medical beliefs and practices. Drawing on first-hand accounts, Murphy spotlights the heroic role of Philadelphia"s free blacks in combating the disease, and the Constitutional crisis that President Washington faced when he was forced to leave the city—and all his papers—while escaping the deadly contagion. The search for the fever"s causes and cure, not found for more than a century afterward, provides a suspenseful counterpoint to this riveting true story of a city under siege.

Thoroughly researched, generously illustrated with fascinating archival prints, and unflinching in its discussion of medical details, this book offers a glimpse into the conditions of American cities at the time of our nation"s birth while drawing timely parallels to modern-day epidemics. Bibliography, map, index. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Superb
Finally, a great nonfiction book written for children. It keeps ones interest all the way through, and is a great companion with "Fever 1793."

An Intense and interesting read
Jim Murphy amazes, educates and horrifies with his wonderful Siebert Award winning and Newberry Honor Book, AN AMERICAN PLAGUE. Murphy deftly describes the political, social, medical and economic conditions that allowed the yellow fever epidemic to devastate Philadelphia in the 1790s in a way that is truly terrifying but nonetheless intriguing.
I couldn't put it down.

Shining example of nonfiction for young people
Jim Murphy's award winning book is a wonderful example of literary nonfiction for young people that's every bit as compelling and well-researched as that for adults. Other recent noteworthy books are Candace Fleming's innovative Ben Franklin's Almanac, Russell Freedman's In Defense of Liberty, and Deborah Hopkinson's fascinating book on immigrants in New York City, SHUTTING OUT THE SKY.

Worth reading
This book is a great read for several reasons:
1. It tells a compelling story.
2. It is written in an informal style that helps makes you feel like you are there as events unfold, and without academic historical jargon or obscure references.
3. The use of archival images and newspapers is terrific.
4. It made me interested to read some of the source documents consulted by the author, such as first person diaries of the time.
5. Lots of fascinating facts for people interested in how American started out as goverment and the challenges it faced.
6. It shows how relatively ignorant science and medicine was back then (bloodletting was still basic medical practice).
7. The book does a good job of giving the details of the story from many different perspectives--from the pauper in the street, to George Washington's frustration.
8. It makes you think about how our goverment now to a big epidemic.
9. It shows how heroic and noble the first African-Americans were at that time, and what a vital service they provided this country through their skill, dedication, compassion and piety.

A few minor quibbles with the editing: I found a glaring typo in a chapter heading, and some of the narrative is repetitious.

On the whole a very good book for young and older people alike.

A disclaimer: It turns out that the author of this book lives in my relatively small town, but I have never met him, don't know what he looks like, but thank him just the same.

A fascinating book
In August 1793, the capital of the new United States, Philadelphia, was in the grip of a heat wave. Suddenly, in the poorer quarters of the city, the poor began to sicken and die in the most horrible of ways. Many people fled, while other worked to stem the tide of illness. Armed with an archaic (and downright wrong) theory of medicine, the city could do little but suffer as this disease raged throughout the city, carrying off some 4-5,000 people (out of a population of 51,000). This is the story of that plague (Yellow Fever), its effects on the country, and its possible future.

This book was written for younger readers, but is detailed and informative enough to interest even the oldest of readers. I found the book to be quite fascinating, and learned a good deal about the state of medicine at the time. The final chapter, which attempts to scare the reader with the idea of a return of Yellow Fever, I found to be a bit out-of-focus. Nonetheless, I found this to be a fascinating book, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the early days of the American Republic. ... Read more

Book Description

The train of states is rolling by --
rush to the window and watch it go!
The very first car? The very first state:
Delaware, of course,
followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia ...
fifty in all.
The caboose? Washington, D.C.!

Look closely! What do you see?
State birds, state flowers, state trees ...
forty-three presidents! Can you find them all?
Can you spot the flags, heroes, animals, and landmarks
adorning the train of states?

Clickety clack, clickety clack.
Rush out the door, rush to the track.
Where is the train going? Come along!
Over the prairie, over the mountains,
down a green valley, and into a billowing tent.
It's time for a party --
it's time to celebrate
the fifty states!

Reviews (2)

The Great Blizzard
Do you think non-fiction books can't be good? Well your wrong. Blizzard is a really good non-fiction book. It is about the blizzard of 1888. The storm caught most people by surprise because it was unusually warm on March 10, 1888. There was a storm system coming from the North and one coming from the South. The one in the North went along the Canadian border then started to swooped down. The one coming from the South went along the Gulf of Mexico,and then went South some then started to go North. People were in panic. They lost alot of people March 11, 1888. For example, people looking for the subway would get lost and not be able to be found. If they were found they had already died of freezing, being burried, or starving. Two little boys heading out to find their grandmas house got lost then were found not long after burried but still alive. And another example is two tugboats crashed into each other. Most of the people in that accident lived but some died. This is a good book for all age levels.

An insightful, lively account of another "perfect" storm.
Acclaimed historian Murphy shows how a devastating 1888 blizzard not only shut down our northeastern states for days, but radically altered the way Americans live; its repercussions are being felt even today. He illustrates how political corruption, ineptitude, and contemporary social attitudes exacerbated the storm's fallout. Using carefully chosen excerpts from survivors' personal accounts, he also gives us a vivid feel for what life was like then for immigrants, women moving into the workplace, and others who had to struggle to survive everyday. He employs an interesting mix of graphics to further illustrate his story. Junior high school students who believe history is boring may think differently after reading this; it should also appeal to readers interested in natural disasters, and in social histories. Here's another winner from the author whose "The Great Fire" brought Chicago's infamous conflagration so brilliantly to life. ... Read more

Book Description

Catch a glimpse of all the wonders Wyoming has to offer in "C is for Cowboy: A Wyoming Alphabet."This alphabet journey begins "A is for Altitude of mountains that soar, the Grand Tetons rise straight from the floor."Written in a two-tier format with rhyming text for younger readers and detailed expository text for older readers, "C is for Cowboy" showcases the many natural wonders of this expansive state.Susan Guy's dramatic, true-to-life artwork provides a stunning backdrop to the printed words. ... Read more

Book Description

Exploring the wonders of Indiana by using each letter of the alphabet, "H is for Hoosier" is a delight for readers of all ages.From the "musical" dunes along Lake Michigan to the Grissom Air Museum in Peru, from the natives who gave the state its name to James Whitcomb Riley, "H is for Hoosier" gives students a chance to learn fascinating facts about their state through poems and explanatory text for each letter. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Multi-Cultural Teacher
I was very excited when I purchased this book. I thought it was a great idea to teach children about the state. However, I do not feel that the author spent anytime researching the state of Indiana. Also, there is not any racial diversity in this book. If one was to look at this book, they would think Indiana only has caucasion americans living in the state.

A must for those with Hoosier roots...
We lived in Indiana for a year with our small children and we have tried to remind them of all the fun things we did and learned while we lived there. This book is adorable. It covers all the highlights of Indiana. My boys LOVE reading and remembering our year as temporary Hoosiers.

Making Indiana even more interesting!
I received this book as a Christmas gift from a co-worker. I teach fourth grade and we study Indiana History, so this is an awesome and appropriate book. The wording Mrs. Reynolds uses, and the illustrations from Mr. Langton, hook the students in and keep them interested until the very end. The facts and information on the sidebar of each page is an excellent way to tie everything in together. I read it to my students immediately upon receiving it, and they have already made references to it just in the short time since I've had it. It is a perfect gift for any teacher (especially one who teaches fourth grade) or for any Hoosier. I would recommend this book to anyone! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Delaware might be a little state, but it is the First State
I was thinking that when the first of the new state quarters were produced in 1999 that a lot of Americans would be surprised to learn that Delaware was the First State.Indeed, in "Big Names for a Small State," the first chapter in Jean F. Blashfield's look at "Delaware" for the America the Beautiful series, those Delaware quarters featuring Caesar Rodney, an American patriot that most Americans have probably never heard about unless they have seen "1776."As me, I learned that there never really was a Delaware colony prior to that point in American history.Originally called New Sweden and then New Amstel when the Dutch took over, the counties that make up Delaware were three little counties along Delaware Bay given to Pennsylvania so it could have some seacoast.

The history of Delaware is detailed in the next three chapters of the book.Chapter Two explores the strange notion of "Colonial Delaware" up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence and Rodney's famous ride.Chapter Three, "Building the First State," covers how Delaware became the first state, through the Civil War, and the end of the 19th-century."Twentieth-Century Delaware" is the subject of Chapter Four, which tells of the impact of the influential du Pont family.The geographical characteristics of the state and the pollution threats to Delaware Bay are found in Chapter Five, " A Great Bit of Coast." For such a little state, it is amazing the geographical diversity that Blashfield covers in this chapter.

Chapter Six, "The Little State with a Big Story," explains how Delaware has no large cities but still lots of points of interest. The politics of the state are covered in Chapter Seven, "Government Old and New," where we find out about the Whipping Post (an officially recognized form of punishment up to 1952), and the state bird (Blue hen, of course). Chapter Eight, "Chemistry, Corporations, and Chickens" explains the state's unique economy, while "Delaware's People" are the subject of Chapter Nine.Chapter Ten is all about "Leisure Time in Delaware," starts with writers and ends on the beaches.

In the back of the book you will find a Timeline that parallels U.S. and Delaware state history, several pages of Fast Facts, and a whole bunch of places To Find Out More about Delaware.The book is filled with full-color photographs and original maps that detail topography, natural resources and the like.But one of the key parts of these books are the informative sidebars that work in all sorts of great details that do not fit into the main text.Here is where young readers will find out about the Battle that Never Was, favorite son Bull Halsey, the strange Horseshoe Crab, and this time around the recipe we come to expect in every volume of this series is for Delaware Chicken Divan (which I intend to try).These are informative volumes for young readers who will find them extremely helpful when they have to do a report on the state, whether they live in it or not. ... Read more

Book Description

The intriguing facts and faces, history and places of Wisconsin are revealed to readers young and old in "B is for Badger: A Wisconsin Alphabet."From its leaders in fine arts and architecture (Georgia O'Keefe and Frank Lloyd Wright) to its pioneers in nature conservation (John Muir and Aldo Leopold), Wisconsin has been an influence on major movements in education, industry, and use of natural resources.Brought to life with lyric rhymes and expressive, original artwork, "B is for Badger" showcases for natives and visitors alike the splendors of Wisconsin. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

GREAT BOOK.
This is a beautifully done book. It is good for little children and their older siblings (and parents) as it is written on two levels. The illustrations are wonderful. ... Read more

Book Description

Museums and monuments define the Washington DC landscape, but the stories behind the majestic capital merely begin here.Looking beyond the monuments, from Abigail Adams to the National Zoo, to all the cherry blossoms, flags, houses, and presidents in between, "N is for Our Nation's Capital" is like a guided tour along the most interestingroutes in our capital.Did you know the cherry trees that are an integral part of DC's scenery were gifts from Japan?Or that Mrs. Taft planted the first two? ... Read more

Book Description

When former Richmond High School basketball legend Ken Carter agrees to take over his alma mater's floundering team, he has the players sign a contract that demands good grades, perfect class attendance, and suits on game days. With Coach Carter at the helm, the Oilers' record soon stands at 12 and 0. But when the coach learns that some members of his team are cutting class and failing academically, he locks them out of the gym, incurring the wrath of the players, the school, and the community. Coach Carter's determination to adhere to his convictions puts his philosophy and his players' trust to the ultimate test.

Book Description

Leaving port from Superior, Wisconsin on a sunny November day, the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald is looking forward to a routine crossing of deep Lake Superior.Heading for a port in Cleveland, the giant transport ship is loaded with ore that will be used to build cars.But disaster is building in the wind as a gale storm begins to track after the great ship.This suspenseful retelling of the last hours of the doomed vessel pays homage to all sailors who traverse deep waters, in fair skies and foul.Atmospheric paintings from award-winning artist Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen bring the story to life. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Retelling the doomed voyage of a ship
Knowledgeably written by Kathy-Jo Wargin and expertly illustrated by Gisjbert Van Frankenhuyzen, The Edmund Fitzgerald: The Song Of The Bell is the suspenseful picture book retelling of the doomed voyage of a ship and the tragic end for the 29 men aboard it. Told with compassion and historical accuracy, this true story concludes with the retrieval of the ship's bell from the ocean depths and the placing of it in the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point, Michigan, so that the loved ones of those who died with the sinking of that great ship could have a place to go and remember their cherished memories of those who were lost. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

The inspiring story of the River with the Pebbled Bottom
What I like most about Lynne Cherry's environmental history of the Nashua River is that it is not only the story of the death of a river, but also of its rival. "River Ran Wild" begins thousands of years ago when Indian peoples first came through the Nash-a-way River Valley. Cherry tells of the history of the river, surrounding her text with smaller drawings representing the changing cultures of the various times depicted opposite full-page pictures. The two most telling pictures are basically "before" and "after" shots of the same scene: an aerial view of the Nashua River winding through a factory town where the river changes color from blue to green to brown as factories dump their waste into the water, and a final shot of the river restored to health today. Cherry, who has devoted her life to environmental issues, includes a timeline and an introduction that covers in more detail how the ecological death of this river came about, and the various community efforts and governmental laws that resulted in fish and game finally return to the Nashua. All too often book like this can only mourn the loss of another part of our environment, so it is nice to see something that that celebrates one of the all too few instances of success in getting back to what we once had.

This book is fantastic for third graders!
I used this book with my third grade class when they were studying the effects of water pollution on a large body of water. They had already studied Native Americans in second grade and this book just blended the two subjects together. The step by step portrayal of man's harm to the Nashua River helped my children learn about how they were harming the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Lynne Cherry is a fantastic author and presents two great subjects that are highly interesting to children. Any teacher that teaches either Native Americans or water pollution should include this book in their lessons!

This is one of the greatest books ever written.
This book was given to me at age 12. I am now 17 and it is still my favorite. I will never outgrow the beautiful pictures, or the very important lesson it teaches. Every page is expertly laid out, with exquisite paintings depicting the river and the era being discussed. The message of environmental conservation and protection is inspiring. Lynne Cherry makes this vital part of our existence understandable to young children, and even adults, often the harder group to reach. I highly reccommend this book for anyone who wants their children to appreciate the world around them and learn that they can, and should, do their best to save it.

Scenic AND educational!
This is a beautiful book! The illustrations are breathtaking and it follows an almost "illuminated" type of text structure, similar to that found in "The Mitten" by Jan Brett. Each page is bordered by illustrations of items pertaining to the period in history that the page is depicting - the implements used by Native peoples, animals that live by the river, inventions of the Industrial Revolution, etc. There is much more to talk about on each page than just the environmental theme of the book. This book would fit well in units about Native people, progress/inventions, ecology, water habitats, etc. A must-have for classrooms, homes, and teachers ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Learn why as long as there is Kansas, there will be sunshine
Nancy Robinson Masters begins this volume in the America the Beautiful, Second Series by devoting Chapter One, "Kansas Sunshine," to the story of Jessie Spencer.She was an American Red Cross canteen worker from Fredonia, Kansas who was serving in France during World War I.As she gave doughnuts and coffee to soldiers she would tell them, "As long as there is Kansas, there will be sunshine."Known as the Kansas sunshine girl, Jessie Spencer became known nationally because of her efforts to pick up morale.In this informative book, Masters explains why Spencer would feel that way about her state.

The next three chapters of the book are devoted to the history of Kansas, with Chatter Two, "From Seawaters to Statehood," beginning with fifty different times millions of years ago that the area now named Kansas was covered by oceans and ending with the border wars and "Bleeding Kansas" over the issue of slavery.In between there are the Spanish conquistadors searching for Quivira, the opening of the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails, and the Pottawatomie Massacre.The dark days of Bleeding Kansas carry over to the start of Chapter Two, "Pioneers and Populism," which begins with the Civil War, tells of the years Kansas was the frontier, and ends with the Populism that was popular there at the end of the 19th century.Chapter Four, "Mileposts to the Future," looks at the 20th century and the part Kansas played in two work wars, and in the 1950s Dwight Eisenhower, who was raised in Abilene, Kansas, became president and the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the famous case of Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka.

The geography of the state is covered in Chapter Five, "The Nature of Kansas," which looks the four main regions defined by the dominant plains (we also learn the difference between the geographic and geodetic centers of the continental United States, both of which are in Kansas).Chapter Six, "The Land of Ahs," is a play on "The Wizard of Oz," since Dorothy Gale is probably the most famous "citizen" of Kansas in the world, and looks at the places you can visit along the state's "yellow brick walls."The biggest surprise is that the recipe for this book is for pancakes.The town of Liberal holds the International Pancake Derby each February and it does not have to do with cooking pancakes but running a 1/4-mile race while carrying them in heavy skillets (they get flipped at the start and end of the race).I keep telling you these books are informative.

The politics of the state are the province of Chapter Seven, "Governing Kansas," where 47 out of 105 counties are named for Civil War Veterans and another 17 have Indian names (the only county named for a woman is Barton, honoring Clara Barton).When we find out about state symbols we learn that "Home on the Range" is the state song, but there is also a state march ("The Kansas March") and the state flower (Wild sunflower) is actually a weed.Chapter Eight, "Working in Kansas," looks at the fast-growing economy of the state, while Chapter Nine, "Modern People of the Plains," looks at the people who have come to inhabit the land.

Chapter Ten, "Culture and Competition," looks at the famous sons and daughters of Kansas.This includes writers from L. Frank Baum and Laura Ingalls Wilder to Damon Runyan and Sara Paretsky, as well as big names in sports such as Gayle Sayers, Rick Mears, and Walter Johnson.Masters includes those who became famous playing for the University of Kansas, such as Wilt Chamberlain and Danny Manning, and those who played for the closest professional teams in Kansas City, Missouri, such as George Brett.Throughout the book there are dozens of sidebars that introduce us to other Kansas notables like Amelia Earhart and John Brown.These are also were we learn where the name Jawhawkers came from and that the first Pizza Hut was opened by the Carney brothers in 1958 in Wichita.

In the back of the book you will find a detailed Timeline contrasting U.S. and Kansas state history, several pages of Fast Facts providing easy access to key statistics, and list of books, organizations, and Internet sites where young students can go To Find Out More.There all dozens of photographs, both full-color and black & white, and original maps on things like the exploration of Kansas, topography, and the state's maps and forests. These America the Beautiful, Second Series volumes are ideal for young students who have to research one of the U.S. states (or territories) for class, but also if there family happens to be going through the Jawhawk state on a trip. ... Read more

Book Description

South Dakota is home to an endless supply of American history and Americana.Did you know the world's largest drug store calls Wall, South Dakota home?Or, did you know that the triceratops was one of the state's earliest settlers?What about the prairie the Ingalls family called home?Also in South Dakota!these fascinating tidbits and many more are found in "M is for Mount Rushmore: A South Dakota Alphabt."The state's charm and significance in American folklore goes beyond those four presidents in the mountainside and it's all cpatured here in our South Dakota alphabet. ... Read more

Book Description

Now in its seventh edition, the guidebook continues to be a bestseller among traveling families, visiting school groups, and area residents. Written for children 9 to 14 years old, the book guides kids through the 57 special places they are most likely to enjoy. It's packed with historical information, fun facts, puzzles, and games, and includes activities designed to familiarize kids with subway and city maps. Bound like a workbook for easy use, the lightweight guide includes addresses, phone numbers, tour information, and maps. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great -- because kids don't like Fodors
I don't think there's any better place for kids to visit than DC. But, because it's not Disney World, not all the information is geared towards them. That's why this book is so great. It's perfect for my nephews (8 and 10) who, although quite intelligent, are not ready for Fodors quite yet. Plus, it has a lot of interesting stuff in it that I didn't know myself and I live in the area. ... Read more