N Is for Nutmeg: A Connecticut Alphabet

This delightful book is filled with scenic watercolors, cute rhymes, and lots of state information. Each page - or two - features a rhyme corresponding to a letter of the alphabet and telling something about the Connecticut's history. There is more information about the fact in the rhyme at the side of the page. Famous residents such as Mark Twain and Noah Webster appear along with state nicknames (Nutmeg and Constitution) and symbols (state flower, tree, bird, etc.). Several historical anecdotes and state trivia are included for an interested reader, but the rhymes well be easily memorized by younger children. Even adults may find information they didn't know about Connecticut! I think every child who lives in Connecticut, was born here, or is studying the state should read this book. I can't wait to see the others in the series!

Picture book format history of Connecticut with an alphabet format. Text is very short with rhymes for reading to younger readers, and each topic also has 2-3 paragraphs of longer, more detailed and educational information. The subjects are the state bird, state flower, state tree, famous places, and famous people from Connecticut. A sampling of the topics are P.T. Barnum, Groton where the first nuclear submarine was built, composer Charles Ives, the first law school: the Litchfield Law School, Amelia Simmons, author of the first American cookbook, Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe. I was a little surprised that Y was not for Yale, but instead, "Yankee Doodle Dandy" with an unknown author and not a unique to Connecticut link was selected. The illustrations are in watercolor and are beautiful!This is one in a series of books on individual states in America. Note there are different authors and illustrators. I feel the illustrations in this book are superior to some of the other books (although perhaps this is tainted by my love of watercolors).This book is appropriate for every child who lives in Connecticut and for any child who is learning about Connecticut. I believe every child should know about the state they live in. This book is nice to look at and the content is not too long, so it will appeal to many children. I am impressed by the quality of the content of the books and plan to use each of the books in the series when teaching my children about each of the States.This would make a great gift for a child, and a copy should reside in every public library and in every school library. I also feel that public libraries should have the entire series in their collection!

N is for Nutmeg is a wonderful book for teachers in Connecticut to help their students learn about the state they live in. The illustrations are beautiful. In addition to beautiful the illustrations, the text is written in two different formats: one in poem format for lower readers and then in expository format for higher readers. It is a great book for all ages whether you are a teacher or not.Also look into the rest of the series of books. M is for Majestic, A is for America, E is for Empire, etc.