‘My First Atlas of the 50 States’ Book Review

‘My First Atlas of the 50 States’ Book Review

Heather Johnson

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'My First Atlas of the 50 States' Book Review

As a homeschooling mom, I am always looking for educational books to use in our curriculum. I have included geography lessons with my oldest two children starting at the preschool level, and I plan to do so again with my youngest. Not only do I consider learning to a read a map an important skill, but I also just love maps. My kiddos have inherited my liking for maps. When recently offered the chance to review My First Atlas of the 50 States written by Georgia Beth and illustrated by Sara Lynn Cramb in exchange for my honest opinion, I eagerly accepted the opportunity to add a new title to my home library.

Front Cover of 'My First Atlas of the 50 States'

Author/Illustrator

Author Georgia Beth has written and edited more than 300 books for clients ranging from Target to Barnes & Noble. Her work as a former editor for Teacher Created Materials has given her a wealth of editorial and writing experience including more than 180 nonfiction books in partnership with Time for Kids. She has also written or edited more 90 picture books, chapter books, and middle-grade novels as well as a wide variety of activity books and arts and crafts books.

Illustrator and designer Sara Lynn Cramb creates educational work for children’s books, websites, apps, and other media with a focus on engaging and educating young audiences about the natural world. She loves nature, animals and travel. She. She currently resides in Georgia with her husband, two grumpy turtles, a pair of mischievous cats, and far more books than one person should own.

Synopsis

Recommended for children between the ages of 2 and 5 in preschool through kindergarten, My First Atlas of the 50 States offers a bright and colorful atlas that takes young readers on a journal through all of America’s 50 states from Alabama to Wyoming. The book begins with a full country map and a map of North America. Each state has at least one dedicated page filled with iconic animals, amazing natural wonders, most famous landmarks, and facts that make each state unique and special. The 64-page full-color hardback book currently retails for $14.95 on Amazon.

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Back Cover of 'My First Atlas of the 50 States'

Evaluation

When I first opened My First Atlas of the 50 States, my initial reaction was that I loved all the bright colors throughout the pages. Colorful books are definitely more appealing to the youngest readers. The layout resembles an infographic, which my oldest enjoys. My preschooler and toddler are currently 4 and 1, and both like to flip through the pages with me and talk about the words on each page. Our family vacation to California this summer made that two-page spread a particular favorite. My son loves pointing out the Joshua tree and talking about our experiences in the southern part of the state. My only complaint is that each map is not situated with north at the top of each page. Some states are turned sideways to better fit on the page.

Inside Pages of 'My First Atlas of the 50 States' 1

The illustrations are the main focus throughout the book, but each page includes some text as well. My oldest, who reads at a junior high level but is only 7 years old, can easily read through the entire atlas in one sitting. My youngest two enjoy listening to me read the facts aloud while we look through the book together. For example, the California spread gives information about Mount Whitney, the Mojave Desert, Silicon Valley, the Pacific Ocean, tacos, and Hollywood. My only suggestion is to include some major roads on the maps. My kids wanted to know more about the routes that we have driven across some of the states. Otherwise, my family is thoroughly enjoying My First Atlas of the 50 States.

Inside Pages of 'My First Atlas of the 50 States' 2

Final Verdict

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If you are searching for a map book that focuses on the United States for the littlest readers, I definitely recommend checking out My First Atlas of the 50 States written by Georgia Beth with illustrations by Sara Lynn Cramb. The colorful atlas is recommended for children in preschool through kindergarten. My toddler and preschooler definitely enjoy flipping through the pages, and my third grader likes reading the fast facts about each state. The book is a good introduction to the United States and maps in general. My First Atlas of the 50 States is a new favorite in The Parenting Patch house!

Toddler Reading 'My First Atlas of the 50 States'

Purchase My First Atlas of the 50 States on Amazon via my affiliate link.

Image Credits

‘My First Atlas of the 50 States’ Book Review © 2019 Heather Johnson
Front Cover of ‘My First Atlas of the 50 States’ © 2019 Heather Johnson
Back Cover of ‘My First Atlas of the 50 States’ © 2019 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of ‘My First Atlas of the 50 States’ 1 © 2019 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of ‘My First Atlas of the 50 States’ 2 © 2019 Heather Johnson
Toddler Reading ‘My First Atlas of the 50 States’ © 2019 Heather Johnson