[LM_NET] HIT: Elem. State Alphabet Books

[Dana Burton <dsburton4@YAHOO.COM>]

Original question:
Our school is doing an enrichment unit in May on the 50 states and I am interested 
in ordering the State Alphabet Books from Sleeping Bear Press. Before we spend that 
much money on a set of books, I would like to know if anyone has these and if they 
are worth the money. I will post a HIT if anyone is interested.

Thanks so much for all the responses. I have decided to order the set.

Dana Burton, Librarian
Stewart Elementary
Huntsville, TX
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You may be interested to know that teachers' guide are available online for this 
series.

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I have some of these books, and I do like them.  But I would certainly say that 
these are not the kind of book that you would want to buy if you don't have a new 
set of state books as your primary source of information.  Don't get me wrong, the 
illustrations are beautiful and they're nice, but they are definitely more eye 
candy than substance.  Here in Missouri, our state reports occur in fourth grade.  
And while I like the books, I made sure that I had a new state set (I bought World 
Almanac's state set) first.

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I only have the Y is for Yellowhammer book but am very pleased with it.  I noticed 
that you can also get teacher's guides.  I looked at the one for the Alabama book 
and it looks good.  Just based on that one book, I would recommend the series.

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We have the N is for Nutmeg as we are a Connecticut school and I love it - if I had 
the money I would buy the set

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I don't have the entire set yet, but I really like the format and the information 
in these books that is about the state, but not the traditional state flag, state 
flower, state blah blah blah.  I would say yes to buying them.

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We have the B is for Buckeye one for Ohio. It is great!

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We have multiple copies of the Pennsylvania book. Great book and right on target 
for our state. X is the only letter I have an issue with, but don't we usually have 
a problem with X (they used .."X marks the spot on the map where you'll see 
Philadelphia...").  I'd buy it again.

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I have purchased the books that fit in with our curriculum here in N.J.  I find 
they are very well done and the pictures are bright and colorful.  On the Sleeping 
Bear Pr. website they have activities for many of their books.

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I am at a middle school, and I bought my first book about our state--P Is for 
Palmetto.  My entire faculty fell in love with it.  I have been purchasing them 
along and along, and they are a great hit.  A few of the first of the series seemed 
a little "light" to me, but for the most part they are great.  We teach geography 
here at the 7th grade level, so they are used for extra reading.  I am currently 
adding tests to our Reading Counts Program for each one.

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I've only looked at Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee, but they are wonderful.  
Good information and beautiful illustrations.

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We have about 9 of the books for the SE and they work great with reluctant readers. 
The more gifted kids can create their own books along similar lines--landmarks, 
historical people of note for the state, state symbols and companies or products, 
etceteras. If you have funds $$ try it!!

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The Sleeping Bear Press books are wonderful! They have a portion in verse and large 
type that is readable by younger readers, columns of info in smaller type for older 
readers, and lots of great illustrations. Our library only owns a few so far, but 
in my second job as freelance book reviewer I've seen almost all of their titles 
and each that I've seen is worth the money.

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I loved the New Hampshire book.  We had the author visit the school twice now.  
When I went to the book store and looked at some of the other states they were not 
written as well so I did not buy them as gifts.  I may however buy the set for 
those Third Grade reports.  I think the kids would enjoy reading about their 
assigned state.

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I have one on order but won't get it until March.  I haven't seen any others.  
Gumdrop books (800-821-7199) or a local bookstore might have a copy you could see.

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