Scan barcode
mehsi's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Oh my! A cute board book about the US.
Each double page tells us about one state in the US. From New Hampshire to . Each page is filled to the brim with blocks and within those blocks images that feature items, plants, buildings, historical events, etc. from that state. It is quite simplistically done, but I still like it. Maybe some things could have a bit more information (like how some images get a name), as some items are a bit of a mystery to me. I just couldn’t figure out what they were. Like me, during New Hampshire pages. Is that a broom? And what kind of creature is that underneath the broom? It seems familiar? Why is there a cup on that rock? And other states also had a few items I just couldn’t recognise or understand what they had to do with the state.
As you could have guessed from the title of the book, you are going to be looking for a few items on each state’s page. For instance with Massachusetts. Find items that begin with a B. Baseball, Boston Common, Beach. It was quite fun and it made the book a bit more interactive and interesting.
The whole there is one thing that the next page has in common with the current one was fun, though it took me a bit too long to get why there were circles around things. 😛 I guess it works well in the physical copy, but the ecopy it just looked like someone loved drawing circles in pink (or is it red, can’t see it clearly on my screen). But it is a nice idea, and I am sure that I would love it if I would see it in a physical copy. Just a shame so many times it was an eagle. 😐 I get that the eagle is the symbol of the US, but come on. Lazy much? Maybe instead of saying that there is one item (eagles are not an item), just tell people to follow the copy-paste eagle as he flies through the US.
Also was it needed to list all those state capitols? Is that some kind of American thing that needs to be shown all the time? They were at least different buildings (though a few looked like twins). I just feel that one or two would be fun, or the most special ones, and then focus more on other things.
The art was OK. Very simplistic as I already said, and I did think it was a shame there was so many copy-paste. At times I went back and forth between my ecopy (not easily done as Adobe is a crappy program), and indeed, various images were exactly the same. 😐 And yes, this is a children’s book, but that is no excuse to me.
So yeah, I still quite enjoyed myself, but I will rate the book lower due to the points I mentioned (the copy-paste art, the continuous eagle, the repetition, the art at times a bit too simplistic that you can’t recognise items).
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Oh my! A cute board book about the US.
Each double page tells us about one state in the US. From New Hampshire to . Each page is filled to the brim with blocks and within those blocks images that feature items, plants, buildings, historical events, etc. from that state. It is quite simplistically done, but I still like it. Maybe some things could have a bit more information (like how some images get a name), as some items are a bit of a mystery to me. I just couldn’t figure out what they were. Like me, during New Hampshire pages. Is that a broom? And what kind of creature is that underneath the broom? It seems familiar? Why is there a cup on that rock? And other states also had a few items I just couldn’t recognise or understand what they had to do with the state.
As you could have guessed from the title of the book, you are going to be looking for a few items on each state’s page. For instance with Massachusetts. Find items that begin with a B. Baseball, Boston Common, Beach. It was quite fun and it made the book a bit more interactive and interesting.
The whole there is one thing that the next page has in common with the current one was fun, though it took me a bit too long to get why there were circles around things. 😛 I guess it works well in the physical copy, but the ecopy it just looked like someone loved drawing circles in pink (or is it red, can’t see it clearly on my screen). But it is a nice idea, and I am sure that I would love it if I would see it in a physical copy. Just a shame so many times it was an eagle. 😐 I get that the eagle is the symbol of the US, but come on. Lazy much? Maybe instead of saying that there is one item (eagles are not an item), just tell people to follow the copy-paste eagle as he flies through the US.
Also was it needed to list all those state capitols? Is that some kind of American thing that needs to be shown all the time? They were at least different buildings (though a few looked like twins). I just feel that one or two would be fun, or the most special ones, and then focus more on other things.
The art was OK. Very simplistic as I already said, and I did think it was a shame there was so many copy-paste. At times I went back and forth between my ecopy (not easily done as Adobe is a crappy program), and indeed, various images were exactly the same. 😐 And yes, this is a children’s book, but that is no excuse to me.
So yeah, I still quite enjoyed myself, but I will rate the book lower due to the points I mentioned (the copy-paste art, the continuous eagle, the repetition, the art at times a bit too simplistic that you can’t recognise items).
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
geekwayne's review against another edition
3.0
'I Spy the 50 States' by Sharyn Rosart with art by Sol Linero is a fun picture book with lots of iconography representing all the states.
Starting from the East and moving West, each state gets a page full of colorful pictures representing what you might find in that state. From maple syrup to dinosaur skeletons to surfers and famous buildings and monuments. Each page has a series of things to look for that are easy enough to find. Along with the things that make states different, there are also the things they have in common.
I liked the bright simple pictures that crowd each page. They made if fun to hunt for things. I also liked looking up the places I'd been to see what was included and what got overlooked. That's the problem with only including a handful of images. Something is bound to get overlooked, but for the armchair traveler, or even one on a long road trip, this would be a fun read.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Wide Eyed Editions, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
Starting from the East and moving West, each state gets a page full of colorful pictures representing what you might find in that state. From maple syrup to dinosaur skeletons to surfers and famous buildings and monuments. Each page has a series of things to look for that are easy enough to find. Along with the things that make states different, there are also the things they have in common.
I liked the bright simple pictures that crowd each page. They made if fun to hunt for things. I also liked looking up the places I'd been to see what was included and what got overlooked. That's the problem with only including a handful of images. Something is bound to get overlooked, but for the armchair traveler, or even one on a long road trip, this would be a fun read.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Wide Eyed Editions, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
miszjeanie's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to Quarto Publishing for a free e-galley. I enjoyed this I Spy book! The images are beautifully done and it would be a great activity book especially for adults and older kids. However, I definitely think it would be better appreciated by Americans. I also wish I learned a little more about each state from the pages — more words, maybe?
Still, great pictures and would make for great I Spy action!
Still, great pictures and would make for great I Spy action!
fmfire's review against another edition
3.0
A collage of pictures depicting different unique things about each of the fifty states accompanied by a short I spy riddle trying to find three things about the state. A cute book that I would recommend for children who love I spy books or those who are taking long trips across the continental United States to see if they can match the picture to what they actually see outside their window.
ljrinaldi's review against another edition
2.0
When gas was cheaper, people would often go on road trips across America. There was even the commercial that sang "See the USA, in your Chevrolet." And what did one do on road trips? Play "I Spy" games, if you didn't bring a book to read.
So, I like the concept of this book, but it is poorly executed. As some other reviewers pointed out, some things are labeled, other things aren't. Some things are drawn so poorly you can't tell what they are. And the I Spy part of it will name things like "Horseshoe Crab" but the I Spy will say, "I spy something that begins with C".
Here is New Hampshire.
Delaware
And New York.
But here, I am going to help you with California, being a second generation, and having lived here my entire life, so far. From top, going left to right. Golden Gate Bridge, Apple Computer Mac, Wine (for Napa, Alcatraz (which they could have shown as an island because that is the coolest thing about it, rather than it just being a prison.), Clapboard, a reference to the movies, and a pick and shovel and gold, which is what brought most people out here in 1849.
Sacramento, Palo Alto (the tree for which the city is named), Pacific Ocean, a bald eagle, somewhere, some bird that is not the state bid, and the Hollywood sign.
I presume this is a brown bear. It could be the bear ont he flag, which is actually extinct, some basketball and baseball guy. (there are several teams int he state of both), An orange and sour dough brea, the boardwalk at Santa Monica (where I have never seen surfers.)
Last row, I promise. Death valley with a Joshua Tree, California quail, the state bird, the mission in San Juan Capistrano, some hill somewhere, above which is a salt flat, which I didn't think we had, but it appears to be the dried lake in Death Valley which doesn't lok anything like this picture, a Hollywood star, a bad drawing of a poppy (they have four petals, not five) and some lake somewhere, which might be lake Tahoe, but who knows.
And what do they spy with their little eye? A sequoia tree? I have them in my backyard, they don't look like that.
So, if I have this much trouble with the book imagine kids trying to figure out what they are looking at.
I think this should have come with a reference, which the kids could have looked up what each picture meant, with a little history about said image.
but that is just what I feel. Perhaps this would work for others.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
So, I like the concept of this book, but it is poorly executed. As some other reviewers pointed out, some things are labeled, other things aren't. Some things are drawn so poorly you can't tell what they are. And the I Spy part of it will name things like "Horseshoe Crab" but the I Spy will say, "I spy something that begins with C".
Here is New Hampshire.
Delaware
And New York.
But here, I am going to help you with California, being a second generation, and having lived here my entire life, so far. From top, going left to right. Golden Gate Bridge, Apple Computer Mac, Wine (for Napa, Alcatraz (which they could have shown as an island because that is the coolest thing about it, rather than it just being a prison.), Clapboard, a reference to the movies, and a pick and shovel and gold, which is what brought most people out here in 1849.
Sacramento, Palo Alto (the tree for which the city is named), Pacific Ocean, a bald eagle, somewhere, some bird that is not the state bid, and the Hollywood sign.
I presume this is a brown bear. It could be the bear ont he flag, which is actually extinct, some basketball and baseball guy. (there are several teams int he state of both), An orange and sour dough brea, the boardwalk at Santa Monica (where I have never seen surfers.)
Last row, I promise. Death valley with a Joshua Tree, California quail, the state bird, the mission in San Juan Capistrano, some hill somewhere, above which is a salt flat, which I didn't think we had, but it appears to be the dried lake in Death Valley which doesn't lok anything like this picture, a Hollywood star, a bad drawing of a poppy (they have four petals, not five) and some lake somewhere, which might be lake Tahoe, but who knows.
And what do they spy with their little eye? A sequoia tree? I have them in my backyard, they don't look like that.
So, if I have this much trouble with the book imagine kids trying to figure out what they are looking at.
I think this should have come with a reference, which the kids could have looked up what each picture meant, with a little history about said image.
but that is just what I feel. Perhaps this would work for others.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
duchessofreadin's review against another edition
4.0
This book is fun and one that can help keep kids occupied in the car. While you are driving through many different states, there are things that they can search for. Forget taking electronics and other items to keep kids busy. This book is full of little facts and fun snippets of information. Kids will enjoy searching for the items on their list as you travel through different areas. Fun places to stop, find and more!
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! In fact, I have loved this series! I bought them for my 8th grade U.S. History class (they are all English Language Learners) and they loved the illustrations.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me a chance to preview this one!
Thank you NetGalley for giving me a chance to preview this one!
etruria's review against another edition
3.0
Bright and colorful look at the 50 States in the U.S. There is a hole to peek through on each page to spy the next State. The simple graphics are beautiful but provide limited information and I think a few words explaining the images would be helpful. Might be a good book for a cross country road trip with kids.
Thank you NetGalley & Quarto Publishing Group - Wide Eyed Editions for an advanced copy of this book.
Thank you NetGalley & Quarto Publishing Group - Wide Eyed Editions for an advanced copy of this book.
carolmia's review against another edition
3.0
I find refreshing reading children's books and romance novels in between thrillers. It is also a relaxing experience as the themes and elements in children's literature take me back to those carefree and simpler childhood times.
This title explores each of the U.S. States, on each page there's a large picture that contains various objects, flora, fauna, and places related to that State. Below there are three words you can "spy" on the image which seems like a fun activity to play with a child. Some of the places were recognizable but others were not and there was no explanation of how they were related to that State.
Overall, I enjoyed it but would've liked to have seen a footnote below the images with the description of it, it would have made more interesting my reading experience.
Received ARC from the publisher via Netgalley
This title explores each of the U.S. States, on each page there's a large picture that contains various objects, flora, fauna, and places related to that State. Below there are three words you can "spy" on the image which seems like a fun activity to play with a child. Some of the places were recognizable but others were not and there was no explanation of how they were related to that State.
Overall, I enjoyed it but would've liked to have seen a footnote below the images with the description of it, it would have made more interesting my reading experience.
Received ARC from the publisher via Netgalley
bekah1210's review against another edition
4.0
This is a fun little book designed to teach young kids facts about the fifty states and give them a head start when it comes to American geography. The illustrations are bright and colorful to really draw kids in as they explore all fifty states.