All Around Michigan: Regions and Resources

Children's Literature

Michigan is a water wonderland, given that it includes four Great Lakes and myriad lakes and streams. Yet the author is quick to assure young researchers that the state is more than just a sportsman's paradise. Michigan boasts iron ore, copper and timber resources, is America's leading auto producer, churns out food from 52,000 farms, and has 50 port cities that ship millions of tons of cargo each year. Although the text is fact-laden, they are interesting facts. Kids enjoy large numbers and strange bits of information, so they will be intrigued to learn that, for instance, more than 50,000 gallons of water per second go over Tahquamenon Falls, or that the area around Traverse City grows 75 percent of America's pie cherries. Historical and modern photos will draw young readers further in, and may make them glad that they don't have to wear wooden shoes and Dutch costumes to celebrate the annual tulip festival in Holland, Michigan. By the way, did you know that 4.4 million bulbs bloom during that festival each year? 2004, Heinemann Library, Ages 7 to 12.
—Donna Freedman