Mapping Sam

by Joyce Hesselberth (Author) Joyce Hesselberth (Illustrator)

Mapping Sam
Reading Level: K − 1st Grade
A Bologna Ragazzi Award Special Mention! An adventurous cat named Sam explores her neighborhood at night in this gorgeously illustrated book. Informational, beautiful, and deeply moving, Mapping Sam is both a book about how maps work and an engaging, character-driven story. In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews says that Mapping Sam is "a winning choice." An ideal read-aloud for classrooms and homeschooling, the book features a page of background information as well as various maps and map terms throughout. For fans of Brandon Wenzel's They All Saw a Cat and Sara Fanelli's My Map Book, and for anyone who wants to know what is where and how to get from here to there! Maps can show us streets and subways and cities and countries. But they can also show us what we can't see, what we can only imagine, or how to build something. In Joyce Hesselberth's Mapping Sam, Sam the cat puts her family to bed, and then--when all is quiet--heads out to explore her neighborhood.As Sam follows her customary path, wandering farther and farther away from home, readers encounter different kinds of maps illuminating different points of view and the various spots Sam visits. Finally, when Sam reaches her favorite place and confirms that all is well, she heads back home, climbs onto a cozy bed, and falls asleep. An ideal read-aloud for classrooms and libraries, Mapping Sam features a page of background information, as well as various maps and map terms throughout. Perfect for fans of Lynne Rae Perkins's Frank and Lucky Get Schooled and Peter H. Reynolds's The Dot.
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Paperback
$8.99

School Library Journal

Starred Review

PreS-Gr 3--Once Sam the cat makes sure her family is asleep, she sets out to explore the neighborhood. Hesselberth uses this conceit to build a playful yet informative narrative based around cartography. First readers explore an neighborhood map of the feline's initial travels before embarking on a journey that will take them to the edge of the universe and back. Hesselberth's maps range widely, from diagrams of Sam's anatomy, a plant, and a water molecule to charts of planets and stars to architectural drawings. Some common cartography terms like compass rose and legend are defined. The spare text emphasizes ways readers can find patterns and relationships in their surroundings and the artwork--done in watercolor, acrylic paint, gouache, and digital collage--presents this information visually. Hesselberth's Sam is perfectly catlike as her expressions shift among bemusement, curiosity, and sass. Additional context about each type of map is provided at the end of the book. These thumbnails will prove useful for older readers or adults working with beginners. Librarians will also want to seek out Julie Dillemuth's Mapping My Day and Loreen Leedy's Mapping Penny's World to extend conversations on this subject. VERDICT An eye-catching introduction to maps, charts, and diagrams for the youngest of cartographers.--Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University Library, Mankato

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"First readers explore a neighborhood map of the feline's initial travels before embarking on a journey that will take them to the edge of the universe and back...An eye-catching introduction to maps, charts, and diagrams for the youngest of cartographers."—School Library Journal (starred review)
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780063043220
Lexile Measure
700
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Greenwillow Books
Publication date
February 20, 2021
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV036000 - Juvenile Fiction | Science & Technology
JUV002050 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Cats
Library of Congress categories
Cats
Maps
Neighborhoods
Charts, diagrams, etc

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