Looking at Maps

Children's Literature - Laura Ruttig

Perfect for in-class use, this educational title from the "Geography Skills" series focuses on geography, specifically reading and understanding different types of maps. Although not as thought-provoking as the other titles in this series, Taylor covers a full range of topics, including weather maps, pictorial maps, longitude and latitude, and GPS. Each individual section is only two pages long, but each packs in a full lesson on the subject, including at least one homework idea. For example, Taylor asks the reader in one section to draw a map of an ideal vacation island, including points of interest such as beaches and amusement parks. A decent glossary and a short list of additional websites to visit are also included. Overall, this is not a title that is likely to attract young readers directly; however, the snippets of information and the additional activities could provide an ideal source for classroom discussion. Reviewer: Laura Ruttig