Minnesota

Introduces the geography, history, industries, people, and other highlights of Minnesota.

Packed with fun facts about daily life, history, environmental issues, and much more, this series of 52 books (including Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia) provides a thorough introduction to the richness and diversity of America.

Children's Literature

Each entry in the "Hello USA" series is similar in format with four narrative sections covering the land, history, people and economy, and the environment. A fifth "All About..." section includes fun and other facts, state song, a recipe, historical timeline, outstanding citizens with pictures and short bios (author Wanda Gag), places to visit, annual events, state wildlife, and an annotated bibliography of well-chosen fiction and nonfiction. The environmental section focuses primarily on the bickerings and diverse opinions about how the state boundary waters should be used. A political map showing the principal cities and national forests faces a physical map of geological regions, elevation and other features. A later map indicates principal products, but it would benefit from being superimposed on a political map so readers see the connections. Separate short sections include ones about Paul Bunyan and tall tales, an enigmatic runestone that turned up in a field in central Minnesota, and the conflicts between settlers and the Dakota tribe. Illustrations are well chosen from modern, historical, archival and artistic sources. All in all, this is a useful, specific, varied and well-organized introduction to the state and one that will assist report writers, would-be tourists, or the merely curious equally well. Endmatter includes web sites, a glossary and proper names pronunciation guide, and an index. 2002, Lerner Publications, $25.26 and $6.95. Ages 9 to 14. Reviewer: Susan Hepler