50 Adventures in the 50 States

November 1, 2020

Gr 4-6-Siber highlights activities native to each of the 50 states. The topics discussed include the fall colors of Vermont, the Badlands of North Dakota, the downtown Chicago, IL, ice rink in winter, the bird population of New York City, scuba diving off the coast of North Carolina, and digging for salt crystals at the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. The entries are engaging, but this is the type of volume that can easily lead young readers to assume that the spotlighted activity is the main feature of each state. Each two-page chapter showcases Hill's vibrant illustrations. Some animals resemble caricatures. Text boxes provide a general overview and history of the location and attraction. Other relevant information is scattered across the spread. Some readers will struggle with the haphazard arrangement of the text. Pronunciations and definitions are missing. There is an index, but no glossary. Some statements are contradictory. For instance, a question in the Kansas section asks, "Did you know that prairies grow in places that are too dry for forests and too wet for deserts?" At the bottom of the page, the text reads, "Jackrabbits, cottontails, rodents, lizards, and deer all live on the prairie. In forested areas near streams, foxes and bobcats prowl." VERDICT This title might be useful for supplying a unique fact for state reports, but it is not a comprehensive resource.-Eldon Younce, Anthony P.L., KS

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 15, 2020
Find something to do in every state in the U.S.A.! This guide highlights a location of interest within each of the states, therefore excluding Washington, D.C., and the territories. Trivia about each location is scattered across crisply rendered landscapes that background each state's double-page spread while diminutive, diverse characters populate the scenes. Befitting the title, one "adventure" is presented per state, such as shrimping in Louisiana's bayous, snowshoeing in Connecticut, or celebrating the Fourth of July in Boston. While some are stereotypical gimmes (surfing in California), others have the virtue of novelty, at least for this audience, such as viewing the sandhill crane migration in Nebraska. Within this thematic unity, some details go astray, and readers may find themselves searching in vain for animals mentioned. The trivia is plentiful but may be misleading, vague, or incorrect. Information about the Native American peoples of the area is often included, but its brevity--especially regarding sacred locations--means readers are floundering without sufficient context. The same is true for many of the facts that relate directly to expansion and colonialism, such as the unexplained near extinction of bison. Describing the genealogical oral history of South Carolina's Gullah community as "spin[ning] tales" is equally brusque and offensive. The book tries to do a lot, but it is more style than substance, which may leave readers bored, confused, slightly annoyed--or all three. (This book was reviewed digitally with 12.2-by-20.2-inch double-page spreads viewed at 80% of actual size.) Go adventuring with a better guide. (tips on local adventuring, index) (Nonfiction. 8-10)

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July 1, 2020
Double-page spreads feature eye-catching illustrations full of movement and detail; each scene focuses on a particular outdoor activity and includes other bits of relevant information. Some activities involve a specific site (boulder climbing in Alabama's Cherokee Rock Village); others are more general ("Learn to ski or snowboard" in Maine). The entries can include snippets about natural history, earth science, and Indigenous populations, as well as helpful tips: while snowshoeing in Connecticut: "If you're going down a steep hill, bend your knees and keep your weight back so you don't somersault down the slope!" "5 Adventures in Your Own Neighborhood!" and an index conclude the offering.

(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)