The Barnes & Noble Review
The U.S. of A. is riding the rails in this informative, eye-catching read from award-winning author-illustrator Peter Sís. Inspired by antique circus wagons at the Circus World Museum, Sís creates a colorful American-themed train, dedicating each page to a different state (plus one for Washington, D.C.), with each state's particular statistics and symbols front and center. The author organizes his train according to when statehood was achieved, so he begins with Delaware and lists its capital, state tree, state flower, state bird, and other symbols. Sís includes other basic facts about Delaware, too, such as its nickname and motto, building all of the state's symbols into the design of the train car; by combining his own illustrative perspective with old-fashioned flair, he is able to show off Delaware's uniqueness. From there, readers will be fascinated by the other states' train cars -- including Kentucky's horse theme and Utah's beehive and industry design -- all rounded out with Washington, D.C., as the caboose, a scene of children attending a U.S.A.-symboled circus, and a lengthy note about the illustrations in the book. It goes without saying that for Sís fans, this impressive effort is a welcome addition to collections, thanks to the author-illustrator's particular attention to detail and style. Parents and educators of children in lower grades will find this a handy, eye-catching reference tool as well, making a fun starting point for those not wholly familiar with Sís's work. Matt Warner
Uncle Sam conducts the patriotic engine of this line of 50 railroad cars (one per state), and Washington, D.C., brings up the rear as caboose. Czechoslovakian-born Sis combines his love for his adopted country (his home for more than two decades) with his admiration for antique circus wagons (from an introductory note). The cars appear chronologically, according to their date of statehood. Readers will pore over the unique design of each, which incorporates the state's flag, motto, nickname and the genesis of its name, as well as labeled images of the state tree, flower and bird. Underneath the cars, Sis lists the state capital, then repeats the state tree, flower and bird, adding a piece of trivia (e.g., "In Barrow, Alaska's northernmost point, the sun doesn't set for 84 days during the summer months"). Given the prescribed space allotted to each state, the duplication of some of these facts comes at the expense of additional information. But the wagons teem with interesting details (explained in an endnote); they include miniature portraits of presidents or other celebrities who hail from the state (Ben Franklin tops the Pennsylvania circus wagon), milestones (Ohio had the first professional baseball team; women could first vote in Wyoming) and relevant symbols (Mount Rushmore for South Dakota). Sis's signature fine black line limns entire vignettes while his watercolor wash adds depth and perspective. He gives both youngsters hungry for state facts and those casting about for unusual historical morsels ample reason to climb aboard this festive train. Ages 6-up. (Sept.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
It is time to celebrate the United States in this visual cornucopia of historical facts. State by state, Peter Sis provides rich details about each of the nation's states, as well as the District of Columbia. States are presented in order of their admission to statehood, and Washington, D.C. follows at the end. From Delaware on, readers learn about each state's capital, its official bird, tree, and flower. They also learn what each one was named for, the dates of statehood, and other facts. To say that Sis' illustrations are richly detailed is an understatement. Each page is a visual feast stuffed to the brim with hints of information about the history, society, and people of each area. The sources of inspiration for many of the illustrations are provided in the accompanying notes, but readers are sure to have a great time trying to decode the book's secrets on their own. The concept for the book is that this is a train of states akin to the hand-carved and hand-painted antique circus wagons of old. By the book's end, the train has rolled into town, and all the people flock to the big, American flag tent to see the performers, who are living embodiments of the states themselves. Readers will enjoy this fun approach to social studies! 2004, Greenwillow/HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 8.
—Heidi Hauser Green
Gr 2-4-Using the motif of a circus train, S's has designed a different car for each state in the Union and a caboose for Washington, DC. A great deal of research went into this book as evidenced by the many tiny details in each watercolor painting. The cars are lined up chronologically according to their date of statehood and are decorated with the state flag, nickname, motto, bird, tree, and animal as well as important people or sites. Readers who have researched a state and are familiar with its history will appreciate the full-page vignettes, but for those who are not, some of the pictures without labels will have little meaning. These details are explained in a section at the back that also provides the key to the symbols that appear throughout. Students who need to research states for reports should try Benjamin F. and Barbara S. Shearer's State Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols (Greenwood, 2001). S's's engaging title, however, is a browser's ticket for a cross-country journey and a treat for trivia lovers everywhere.-Laurie Edwards, Infinity Charter School, Harrisburg, PA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Combining the author/illustrator's stated "love for [his] adopted country with [his] admiration for antique circus wagons," this offering serves up 50 cars, one for each state, and "a most marvelous caboose" (Washington, DC). Each meticulously decorated car-ordered by each state's admission to the Union-includes such standard details as flag, state critters, and nickname, as well as various notable state residents. To make sure the most important information doesn't slip by, a panel at the bottom includes the state tree, flower, and bird (replicating the facts above), capital, and a random factoid ("North Dakota has 63 National Wildlife Refuges, more than any other state"). State-fact purists will no doubt be peeved to find that mottoes properly expressed in languages other than English are translated with no indication of such (New Mexico's Latin "Crescit Eundo" becomes "It grows as it goes"). It's certainly a very pretty caravan, S's's propensity for itty-bitty detail leading to some highly ornate wagons, but the overall impression of the whole is a big "So what?" One can't even fall back on the standard "Good for reports." (Picture book/nonfiction. 6-10)
