New Jersey

Children's Literature

This book, part of the "Portraits of the States" series, is clearly written and colorfully illustrated with photographs and pie charts. Sidebars containing "Fun Facts"—such as the finding of a dinosaur skeleton fossil in Haddonfield in 1858, or a description of a ball game played by the Lenni-Lenape Native Americans who lived along the Delaware River—appear on many of the pages. Other sidebars offer bits of New Jersey history, and there are also entries about famous New Jerseyans, including Albert Einstein, Thomas Alva Edison, Bruce Springsteen, Judy Blume, and Larry Doby. The young student will learn about the importance of New Jersey during the American Revolutionary War and perhaps be surprised to find out that the U. S. Capital was, for a short time, in Princeton and then in Trenton. The growth of the state, which has the highest population per square mile, is documented, as are the changes over the years. This is a fine presentation of "The Garden State" for young readers. 2006, Gareth Stevens Publishing/WRC Media Family of Companies, Ages 8 to 11.
—Carolyn Mott Ford