An Amazing Illustrated Atlas of Scotland by David MacPhail illustrated by Anders Frang*

 Our Scottish guide, Iain Stewart, who has an undergraduate degree in history and a masters in folklore, is friends with Mr. MacPhail and acted as a consultant while he wrote this book. Mr. MacPhail dedicated this book to him. My sister-in-law and I were determined to purchase it. After looking in numerous bookstores with no success, at a last bit of effort without much hope, I checked out a grocery on the Isle of Mull before we boarded the ferry. There two copies sat on the shelf! God's provision! We bought them and had him sign them. 

Region by region Mr. MacPhail shares interesting historial and modern facts about Scotland. I wish I had purchased this book in the beginning of our trip so I could consult it as we toured.

*Highly recommend.

-I own this book.

Side-note-Here is a link to Iain's tour company-https://www.serenityscotland.co.uk/about/

National Parks of the U.S.A. by Kate Siber illustrated by Chris Turnham*

Divided by regions, this book shares an overview paragraph of each national park and then a two page spread of the various flora and fauna that can be sighted there.
Over-sized book
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

The Alphabet from the Sky by Benedikt Grob and Joey Lee

This alphabet book even captured my 11 year old's attention!
Birds eye view photographs of various towns contain buildings or land formations that look like the letters of the alphabet. 
A text box shows where the specific town is located in the United States and also the degrees longitude and latitude. 
-Borrowed from the library.
A very fun book!

The Librarian Who Measured the Earth by Kathryn Lasky illustrated by Kevin Hawkes*

Wow!  This book is extremely interesting and well researched.
Ms. Lasky displays inquisitive Eratosthenes, an ancient Greek,  who begins asking questions from an early and continues to ask questions throughout his adulthood.  These questions propel him to search out answers and discover life changing answers for the entire world.  Along with being the head librarian at Alexandria, Egypt, he also devoted his time to figure  out the circumference of the earth by utilizing his knowledge of geometry.
My eight year old and I read this book together.
Strategy: asking questions
**Highly, highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Paddle-to-the-Sea by Holling Clancy Holling*

-Award winner- Caldecott Honor Book
An Indian boy in the Canadian wilderness carves an Indian sitting in a canoe.  He places the canoe in the snow where the snow will melt and flow into the Great Lakes.
The following chapters follow "Paddle Person" and his journey through the Great Lakes and into the ocean.
Amazing diagrams!
*Highly recommend.
Perfect to utilize while learning about the Great Lakes.
-Borrowed from the library.
Point to discuss: use of the word "Injun".
Guided Reading Level: O (end of third grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.5
I would love to read this author's other books-Minn of the Mississippi and Seabird.

Our Great Big Backyard by Laura Bush and Jenna Bush Hager illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers

Jane and her friends have the perfect summer planned-lots of screen time together!!
Jane's parents, however, decide to take her and her brother Sam on a road trip across the United States.  During this trip Jane realizes how much there is to see and experience apart from her electronic devices!
She shares her discovery with her friends once she returns to Indiana.
Seeing the places her family visited made my nine year old and I want to pack up and take a road trip!
I loved the map end pages and the list of national parks in the United States.
-Borrowed from the library.

People of the World by Nancy Loewen and Paula Skelley*

The photographs of various ethnic groups are beautiful and celebrate diversity.  The text is very simple but the message meaningful.
I like how the children's country of origin was on the photograph and then all the countries identified were labeled on a world map in the back.
I will be using this book when I teach Sunday School.
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.
Text features: labels, photographs, map, glossary, "read more" section

Atlas of Adventures by Rachel Williams illustrated by Lucy Letherland*

"A collection of Natural Wonders, Exciting Experiences and Fun Festivities from the four corners of the globe"
What  a fun, interactive geography book!
A young man and woman explore the globe, traveling to over thirty-one places!  The author encourages the reader to find the couple in each scene.
Each page has a brief paragraph about it and then interesting facts are dispersed with corresponding illustrations around the two page spread.  Humorous illustrations are also included.
A Can You Find? section is included in the back, guaranteed to thrill Where's Waldo? fans!
Text features: table of contents,  headings, picture captions, maps
Book is over-sized.
*Highly recommend.
Borrowed from the library.