Me on the Map

Excellent book! Not only it teaches about maps (from the map of your room to the map of the world) and geography but it is also excellent for teaching about * sequences and patterns (each page follows the same template, expanding from the room to the world) * spacial rotation and visualization (a map is a view from above) * abstract represntation (a map is a schematic view, a model, of the objects it represents) * permancence, presistence, and the transient nature of objects and their location (what should be on the map? - toys, books, socks?)

This book is simple yet engaging. My 4th grade students gained a deeper understanding of their location in this vast universe. They were able to follow the book's example and create their own personal map book. I believe this book should be a part of every elementary classroom.

In all my years as an elementary school librarian, this has to be the best introduction to maps that I have seen for primary grades. It is written at a 1.7 reading level, which makes it accessible to first through third grades. In our school, the third grade teachers do a unit on communities, and this title ties in beautifully with that.I like the way Joan Sweeney starts with, "This is me" and builds the concept through "my room," "my house," "my street," and on to town, state, country and the world. Then she goes backwards until she concludes with "...everybody has their own special place on the map. Just like me."

My four year son and I love this book. I used this book and the mapping activities it inspires to teach my son our address. We basically recreated this book with all of its maps to establish my child's very special place on the map (his bedroom, our home, our street, our town, our state, etc.)If you like this book, try also: Me and My Family Tree.

This book is a great one to share in the classroom as an introduction to mapping. It begins with a girl making a map of her room, her house, her street, etc. Followup activities in the classroom that work well are mapping a student's room, house, classroom, and school.