Greetings from the 50 States - Sheila Keenan

Illustrator: Selina Alko
For: Middle Grades
Pub: 2008
Rating 4/5
Read: Aug. 31, 2008

I enjoyed this book during a leisurely Sunday morning at Border's, over a Caramel Frappacino. Yum.

Each of the fifty states and Washington DC have a double-page spread, with an illustration of the state, important places in the state, and items related to the state (cows for Vermont, potatoes for Idaho, umbrellas and alligators for Florida, etc.) On the right is an explanation of where the state name came from, another explanation about the nickname, and when the state was admitted to the union.

Illustrations are great fun to look at, and the borders around the text have to do with each state...peaches are part of Georgia's border, musical notes for Tennessee, jazz instruments for Louisiana, bison for North Dakota, corn cobs for Iowa, and Hershey kisses for Pennsylvania. Ice cream cones for Missouri? Gonna have to research that one!

My one tiny disappointment: Tall saugaros, sprawling, colorful Grand Canyon,, Sedona, Pima Tribal Land, the Colorado River, and Phoenix. Granted, the capital city is important, BUT.....no TUCSON? Shame!