I checked out this book because there is a children's card game by the same name (and illustrations - so clearly they go together)... but I had no idea there was a book until I stumbled upon it while I was browsing one day.
Kansas is not a very happy state. How do we know? "I'm not feeling happy at all!" he exclaims. He's feeling kind of bored, being stuck in the middle of the country all the time. He never gets to go anywhere, he never gets to do anything, and he never gets to meet any new states! So he decides to have a big party for all of the states to socialize and get to know each other. With the help of Nebraska, Missouri, and Iowa, "those wacky little midwestern states planned the biggest party ever!"
As you might expect from the title of the story, it doesn't take long until all the states decide to trade places with each other, just to see what life is like in another part of the country. They're so excited! Hawaii and Alaska get to be around other states! Minnesota gets to go somewhere warm! Florida gets to go north and cool off!
Everything seems peachy at first, but soon the states are as unhappy as ever. Minnesota is sunburned! Florida is freezing! Alaska keeps getting poked by Oklahoma's handle, and the ocean makes Iowa's corn all soggy! Turns out this wasn't such a great plan after all. So, all the states decide to move back to their original homes. After that, they are very happy with their lives, and they all live happily ever after. The reader walks away with the moral that we should be happy with what we have.
What I really want to talk about with this book is the illustrations. I read this to my "buddy" in class and, while the story was amusing, the illustrations were definitely what caught his attention. Keller's illustrations of the states are very detailed, giving each state its own personality. On every page there are mini-conversations going on all over the place. At the party, the states eat "New York cheesecake," "Georgia peach pie," "Minnesota peas," "Iowa corn surprise," and other exciting dishes. "Well, I am just blowing my diet," says Idaho. Several states dance on one side of the room, and New Hamshire exclaims "Wow! Those southwestern states can really dance!" Wyoming pulls out a chair for Louisiana, and Tennessee exclaims "this is the third time I've dropped my fork!" Meanwhile, Nevada and Mississippi gaze longingly at each other, in the very beginning of what turns into a book-long romance. Iowa is taking Wisconsin's coat at the coat check: "Nice coat!" "Thanks." Illinois is handing out nametags, and tells New Jersey, "oh, I just saw yours!" Nebraska and Kansas are greeting other states at the door, one of which is climbing out of a big white limo. And this is all just on one page! The entire book is just as detailed, and definitely keeps engaged through the entire story.
Another thing I really like about this book is that there is a game that accompanies it. Because of the bright pictures, fun story, and personality of the states, I can really see this as a way to make learning US geography fun. All I can say is, I wish this book was around when I was a kid!
No comments:
Post a Comment