Kansas Facts and Symbols (The States and Their Symbols)

Deady, Kathleen W.

ISBN 10: 0736822461 ISBN 13: 9780736822466

Publisher: Bridgestone Books, 2003

Synopsis

Presents information about the state of Kansas, its nickname, motto, and emblems.

About this title

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4-These books yield some facts so simplified that they are likely to mislead children. In Kansas, Deady states that "People who fought in the conflicts were known as Jayhawkers." The conflicts mentioned were said to be "over slavery." Should readers deduce that all people fighting over slavery in Kansas were Jayhawkers? Both Oklahoma and Kansas have the bison/American buffalo as a state animal. In Kansas, the text states that a bison can weigh up to "2,000 pounds," while in Oklahoma, it is said that the animal can weigh "more than 2,000 pounds." Sadly, the entire state of Kentucky, according to Deady, has only two unique "Places to Visit" so the Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom made the top three. The cover of Oklahoma sports a handsome lizard, likely the mountain boomer lizard briefly described in the text. The photo credits identify the photographer but not the lizard. This book incorrectly states that "People who waited until the starting gun [to enter the state to claim a piece of land] were called Boomers." As teachers engage younger and younger students in research projects, there is an understandable rush to provide accessible products to meet the need. However, these three representatives of the series are slick, compact, misleading, and shallow.
Jody McCoy, The Bush School, Seattle, WA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Bridgestone Books
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0736822461
• ISBN 13: 9780736822466
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 24