Journey Around Philadelphia from A to Z

By Martha Day Zschock

Book Overview

Next stop, Philadelphia That's the call from author-illustrator Martha Day Zschock, who has taken children and their delighted parents on Journeys Around Boston, New York, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Chicago, Maine, Nantucket, and Cape Cod since starting this bestselling series in 1999. Zschock is not only a brilliant artist but also a committed educator, whose books are embraced by teachers and principals nationwide. These are far more than alphabet books. Each page is headed by an alliterative sentence that evokes an important theme. For example, Philadelphia's A page, featuring Benjamin Franklin, is headed Aphorisms and advice appear in the almanac. A playful factoid at the bottom of each page expands on the theme. (Did you know that the aphorism Haste makes waste is traceable to Poor Richard, i.e. Franklin?) In each city she visits, Zschock thoughtfully looks beyond the tourist attractions to the community residing there. For example, here the N page explains how Neighborhoods define urban nature. The O page describes how Old Order Amish obey the Ordnung, while the U page celebrates Philadelphia's stop on the Underground Railroad that helped enslaved African Americans escape the South before the Civil War. Now the second leading history destination in the U.S. (after Washington D.C.), Philadelphia is the perfect city for this thoughtful, beautiful series.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1933212284
• ISBN13: 9781933212289
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Arcadia Children's Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 11.3" x 11.3"
• Age Range: 6 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 4

Customer Reviews

Great for kids

Cool book...high quality and great for kids. My 6 year old niece loved it.

Delightful tour of the City of Brotherly Love & Sisterly Affection

I found this book attractive in its succint style and artwork. Both young and old--especially visitors and newcomers to Philly--would benefit from its reading. I plan to pass it onto my nephew interning in the city this summer.

Excellent, Beautiful Book

I found this book today in the Drexel University Bookstore of all places. What a lucky find! Yes, this is a children's book, but it is fit for children of all ages - particularly those with a connection to the city of Philadelphia. It is an A-Z book, but it is also so much more - a mini travel guide of sites and history with tidbits of great information. I particularly enjoyed the front and back page illustrations of many things associated with the area that wouldn't fit into the text of the book. A great opportuity to expand your child's knowledge about the area. The illustrations are beautiful. I would happily purchase a print of the eagle rowing on the Schuylkill River for my brother who spent untold hours there both in high school and in college. The highlights of the city as well as gems of the surrounding area are succintly, yet wonderully covered. It includes entries for the some of the oldest and most revered sites as well as some recent additions to the Philly scene. This is a book that your child will be able to enjoy for several years - not several minutes. I will be purchasing many more copies of this book - it's truly fabulous!