Do you like history, illustration, and maps? Well, then The 50 States was made for you! Written by Gabrielle Balkan and illustrated by Sol Linero, this oversized (quarto-sized) book features an impressive collection of facts about every state in the Union.
Sol did a wonderful job of illustrating this book. After receiving it from Quarto Publishing, I spent a long time looking through every page—all of the small, quirky illustrations make up an engaging whole. They keep your attention with their bold, eye-catching style. There’s also a distressed texture to the overall publication, and it’s as if you’re looking at a well-loved guidebook that’s referred to over and over again.
Every state has its own spread. It shows the major cities, popular industries, famous folks (not just white guys—prominent women and minorities, too), key facts, and claims to fame. Did you know the Maine Coon is the official cat of Maine? Go figure.
And how about those hand letters?! They’re different with each turn of the page.
Once you’ve read about the 50 States, there’s some bonus materials—the State Flags and presidential portraits from George Washington to Barrack Obama.
With the holidays rapidly approaching, I totally recommend The 50 States for the book lover on your list. It’s geared towards children but will delight adults, too. Purchase it here.
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