Florida

Children's Literature

The author presents the history, culture and natural science of her home state in a unique way. She starts her description in the northwest corner of the state and works her way down the western coastline around the tip of Florida and up the eastern coastline. At each location she informs us of the early history, comments on the early native people, Civil war battle sites, fortresses, and remaining plantations. She includes the wildlife, manatees, miniature deer, alligators, crocodiles, dolphins, sea turtles, pelicans, and flamingos; and we can't forget the wild roosters who roam the streets in Key West. When you add the diverse plants, i.e. mangroves, cypress, pine, oak trees, sawgrass and orchids to the mix you have a paradise of nature. The author has done a magnificent job of sharing her state with the reader. Also, the colorful illustrations give life to the presentation. 2004, Charlesbridge, Ages 9 to 12.
—Leila Toledo

School Library Journal

Gr 3-5-This trip around the sunshine state, counterclockwise from Pensacola to Jacksonville, is more of a travel brochure than an information book for children. Friend's mission is to show visitors that the state is more than beaches and theme parks, and she accomplishes this by featuring many of the lesser-known historical and environmental sites. The book is heavily illustrated with realistic, bright, watercolor paintings. It begins with an attractive map of the state, which includes most locations mentioned in the book, but neglects to show Miami or Fort Lauderdale, two of Florida's most populous cities. Each page includes one main illustration with a number of smaller pictures as well; the captions are printed in such a small, fine font that they will be difficult for many children to read. Native Americans are pictured in historical settings, and there are some Latino dancers in Miami, but the tourists who appear in many of the paintings are almost all Caucasian. There are some good Web sites included in the resource list, but the suggested books are specialized titles, including those by the author on sinkholes and the Civil War. This is an attractive choice for a child about to visit the state, but for reports on Florida, stick to standard state books, like Barbara A. Somervill's Florida (Children's, 2001).-Susan Oliver, Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library System, FL Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.