****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Writer Carol Crane and illustrator Michael Glenn Monroe produced a fabulous alphabet book of Alaska in the Discover America State by State Alphabet Series. As school librarian, I feel compelled now to get the entire set if all are as good as this one. One of our teachers requested this book for an Alaska unit and we are both delighted!The book is set up for two age groups: little ones, 4-8, with a little verse and beautiful illustrations that demonstrate the verse; and older children, 9-12, with the sidebars for more information pertaining to each letter and topic."A is for Alaska Nativesremembering their ancestor's way.Fishing, trapping, hunting, and whaling,living on a great land today."The double page spread shows two Natives, standing on ice floes, catching fish with spears. The side bars tell us that they have creation stories, what they make their canoes, spears, clothing out of. We learn about their artistic style, totem poles, spiritual symbols, and celebrations.Alaska is home to all three bears that live in the United States: brown/grizzly, black, and polar. Cranberries grow wild in Alaska!! That was a shocker!! The Alaska flag was created through a contest won by a 13-year-old Native American boy.Alaska has glaciers, King Salmon which can find their way to exactly the place they were born to lay/fertilize eggs and die, that Northern Lights are a "shimmering night time show," and that Ptarmigan (birds) can dive into the snow and be warm, cozy, and safe from enemies. Even though the tundra is full of life, it is a frozen terrain in the winter and considered a "cold desert."Another shocker is the size of vegetables that grow during growing season. The Yukon River was a source of gold for gold diggers back in the day. Juneau, the state capital, can be reached only by airplane or boat! No roads lead to Juneau.The book concludes with a quiz and short bibliography."L is for Last Frontier: An Alaskan Alphabet" is a must-have book if you are interested in an alphabet of facts about the state. Or find the book which addresses your state. This series is a winner--or 26 winners!
