From the series Hello, America!
Empire State Building
Reading Level KindergartenInterest Level Grades K – 3Copyright 2018
Reviewed
From the series Hello, America!
Reading Level KindergartenInterest Level Grades K – 3Copyright 2018
ReviewedIn Empire State Building, young readers will explore this New York landmark and learn about its historical significance. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage emergent readers as they explore this important American site.
A labeled diagram helps readers understand the parts of the Empire State Building, while a picture glossary reinforces new vocabulary. Children can learn more about the Empire State Building online using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Empire State Building also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, and an index.
Empire State Building is part of Jump!’s Hello, America! series.
'These new additions to the Hello, America! series are of somewhat uneven quality, and the constraint of their very introductory reading level often shows. Each book provides a small amount of historical context for its featured structure and the person it is meant to honor, and includes historical and modern images as well as a child’s-eye account of a visit; a labeled diagram of the monument or building and picture glossary conclude. Empire State Building effectively translates the Depression context into child-friendly terms—“tough times”—before leaping into the present, highlighting its draw as a tourist attraction. Lincoln Memorial is appropriate, but its wording is often awkward; additionally, the Civil War highlights are more confusing than illuminating, as fighting the war, ending slavery, and giving speeches are mentioned in quick succession. Unfortunately, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is the weakest of the set; it manages to avoid even the simplest discussion of race or equality in favor of vague nods to “hope,” “fairness,” and the otherwise unexplained “civil rights movement.” Washington Monument, on the other hand, is the strongest volume, progressing nicely from an introduction to George Washington to the monument’s construction to a child’s plausible sense of wonder upon visiting the landmark. Given the varied quality, librarians and teachers may wish to pick and choose among the series.', Miriam Aronin, Booklist
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