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Don't Know Much About the 50 States

Name: Don't Know Much About the 50 States
Author: Kenneth C. Davis
ISBN: 9780064462273

by Kenneth C. Davis, Renee Andriani (Illustrator), Renee W. Andriani

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Overview

Thirteen stripes-
Fifty stars-

And hundreds of AMAZING facts about the U.S.A.!

Can you guess the names of the ten states below?

1. I have the highest waterfalls in North America.
2. I am the smallest state.
3. I am the largest state.
4. I have produced the most presidents of the United States.
5. I was the first to become a state.
6. I was the last to become a state.
7. I have the "Gateway to America."
8. I have the most kids under age ten.
9. I have the most tornadoes.
10. I am home to America's most popular vacation spot.See page 6 for answers.

Provides assorted facts about each of the fifty states in question and answer format.

Synopsis

Thirteen stripes-
Fifty stars-

And hundreds of AMAZING facts about the U.S.A.!

Can you guess the names of the ten states below?

Children's Literature

This entry in the "Don't Know Much about" series delivers the goods in zippy, hip, question-and-answer format. Each state gets a page with a map, the capital location starred and a quick chart of nickname, year of statehood, capital city, state flower and bird. Format includes two or three questions with paragraph answers; boxed extra, silly or fascinating facts; trivia contests; occasional bulleted material; and other varieties of design elements to catch the eye. While report writers may have to search elsewhere for those boring facts about principal products, here are the things that interest children and invite plenty of "Dad! Mom! Did you know..."s at the dinner table. No index but the states are arranged alphabetically and a neat clay-mation type map on the endpapers helps second or third graders master those state locations. Good fun and Andriani's cartoon illustrations add humor. 2001, HarperCollins, $15.95 and $15.89. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Susan Hepler

About the Author, Kenneth C. Davis

Kenneth C. Davis is the bestselling author of America's Hidden History and Don't Know Much About^® History, which spent thirty-five consecutive weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, has sold nearly 1.6 million copies, and gave rise to his phenomenal Don't Know Much About^® series for adults and children. He lives in New York City and Dorset, Vermont.

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Editorials

Children's Literature

School Library Journal

Gr 3-5-Children will learn plenty about the U.S. after taking this winsome tour. The book devotes a page to each state and lists its nickname, date of statehood, and capital with drawings of its flower and bird, and a simple outline map. Beyond that, the page is filled with facts, stories, and statistics unique to that state. For example, Davis notes the origin of "Tar Heel" in North Carolina, points out that the tallest waterfalls in North America are in California, explains that a "nodding donkey" is an oil pump in Texas, and that, at one point, Alaska is only two miles away from Russia. Each page is filled with numerous cartoon drawings that, along with the text, reflect the role of African Americans, Native Americans, and women in our country's history. While the information is not comprehensive enough for reports, it does provide offbeat and interesting tidbits to round them out. A bright, cheery romp through the states.-Kristen Oravec, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Strongsville, OH Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

The author of the popular adult Don't Know Much About series goes after a younger audience, laying out a skimpy assortment of random facts about the states and using the same lighthearted Q&A format. With Andriani's small cartoon illustrations liberally scattered about for color, Davis pauses at each state in alphabetical order, starting with a box of facts in brief, then, along with the occasional lame joke ("What has four eyes but can't see? Mississippi"), introducing a handful of historical events, famous natives, natural features, or unique characteristics. Browsers may pause here for a few moments-before going on to more substantial tours of the US, such as Lila Perl's It Happened in America (1992). Because Davis's accuracy is sometimes as casual as his style-not all of the Alamo's defenders were Texans, for instance, and Davy Crockett wore a coonskin cap far more often in legend than in life-it's not a primary purchase for libraries. (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-10)