There's a Map on My Lap! All about Maps

by Tish Rabe

Book Overview

Laugh and learn with fun facts about mapmakers, geography, compasses, and more--all told in Dr. Seuss's beloved rhyming style and starring the Cat in the Hat

"You may travel the world, but no matter how far, with a map on your lap you will know where you are."

The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library series combines beloved characters, engaging rhymes, and Seussian illustrations to introduce children to non-fiction...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375810994
• ISBN13: 9780375810992
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
• Length: 48 Pages
• Weight: 0.49 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.6" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 5 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 4

Customer Reviews

Great book, more in-depth than others of the Seussian genre

This book was basically great, although some of the Dr. Seuss-style rhyming was just a tad confusing in the map-reading examples. I'd recommend adults read it over first, and if you are reading to--or with--kids who aren't familiar with the Seuss style, just skip over some of the names. Other kids may enjoy that part. Overall this is a great book on map reading. Parents may want to read it with their kids before going on a road trip, have them practice some map-reading skills at home (including a blueprint-style map of the rooms in their home), then try to find some very simple maps for the kids to read on the road, depending on their ages. This summer we organized some day camps to help young family members learn to read, which included numerous treasure hunts to practice reading skills. On the final day we read this book, then the big blowout treasure hunt led them to a hidden bag of puzzle pieces. When they put the puzzle together, it was a map of a couple rooms in our house, with red arrows pointing to the location of their next clue. The kids loved it (and they didn't mind the treasure chest full of little prizes after the final clue either)! I think it reinforced how much they could learn by reading books, and how they could put that knowledge to use. I haven't seen many kids' books that teach map reading, so this is a great addition to a child's library, especially if you help them follow up with some practice. We females tend to have brains that don't automatically process maps, so this may be especially helpful for young girls--if they're anything like me, anyway!

Good, not great

I love, love Dr. Seuss books. My 3 children and I have read them all. Even the ones you have never heard of. I appreciate the effort, but there is much lacking for it to be called a genuine Dr. Seuss book. The boys like it, but it is not one they pull off the shelf to read. They would rather "The Cat in the Hat", or "Green Eggs and Ham" (or any of the others). It has to be my idea to read this one. I do realize that it is a non-fiction book, but the rhythm & some of the rhymes just don't work. I think they could have done a little more to make it "sing-song". That's what makes a Seuss book!

Great for young children

This is a fun book for introducing young children to maps. I will use it in my early childhood classroom but I wish I'd had it when my own chldren were young. They would have loved it!

Map on My Lap

Children enjoyed this book. Used in map unit for PS and elem. settings.

Fun way to learn about maps

This book is classic Dr. Seuss...fun, silly, and children don't realize they're learning something. Great book for teaching about maps. I bought this for my 6 year old prior to going on vacation. We had been looking at maps and talking about what states we'd be driving through on our trip. He enjoyed listening to the book and because of the way the information is presented (fun and silly rhymes), he has retained what he learned. He has even referred back to specific bits of information we read from the book (i.e. Never Eat Shredded Wheat to remember North, East, South and West.) The back of the book contains a glossary of terms mentioned in the book. Highly recommended as an additional tool for teaching about maps.