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Geography/Cultures Far and Near

Holling C Holling Books
Horrible Geography
 


 


Geography and Education: Through the Souls of Our Feet by Kieran O'Mahony is a comparative description of the development of educational systems in very different political arenas. Reaching from early Greek educational philosophies to present day systems, Geography and Education draws in-depth examples from British, Teutonic, Russian and French idealists. The establishment and development of educational systems were unique events to European countries and eventually came to America at a time when the New World was exploring democracy and freedom. These rich and varied outside influences created a particularly difficult educational experience in the North American school arena at the same time that geography was developing as an educational discipline.

Paper, 191 pages. 9"x6"x.5".

#8262 $14.95


Hammond Atlas of World History, 5th edition, edited by Richard Overy - This coffee-table-size book is an enduring classic of world publishing. Its intelligent, accessible and visually sumptuous treatment by over 100 of the world's leading historians brings the drama of history to the page in a way never previously attempted and never matched since. Page by page, continent by continent, era by era, the full sweep of human history is revealed in enthralling detail.

Covers: human origins, the first civilizations 3500-1000 BC, the classical civilizations of Eurasia 1000 BC to AD 500, the world of divided reasons AD 500 to 1500, the world of the emerging west 1500 to 1815, the age of european dominance 1815 to 1914, and the age of global civilization. Includes a chronology, glossary and index.

Loaded with colorful maps, photos and interesting text.

Hardcover, 375 pages. 14.75"x11"x2". 1999 edition (the 2007 version of this book retails for $154.99).

#1205 $95.00 $69.99 Out of print, one copy available.


 

Holling C. Holling Classics
 


Minn of the Mississippi
- Follow the adventures of Minn, a snapping turtle, as she travels hundreds of miles from the source of the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. Her adventure illustrates the life cycle of the turle and the geography, history, geology, and climate of the river. Also learn about bayous, keel boats and more.

The adventures of a three-legged snapping turtle as she travels from the headwaters to the mouth of the Mississippi River illustrate the life cycle of the turtle and the geography, history, geology, and climate of the river.

Paper, 87 pages.
 
#3994 $11.95 $10.99


Paddle-to-the-Sea
written and illustrated by Holling Clancy Holling. A Caldecott honor book written in 1941, the story follows the adventures of a small canoe with a tiny figure inside. Carved by an Indian boy in Canada and named Paddle-to-the-Sea, the canoe is released above the Great Lakes, and the reader follows the canoe throughout its travels to a sawmill, through the Great Lakes, over Niagara Falls, down the St. Lawrence River and all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. The writing and artwork is incredibly detailed. It is fun to read and provides an enjoyable way to learn the geographic and historical information of the region.

Paddle-to-the-Sea reminds me of my childhood fascination with putting leaves and other floating objects in the gutter in front of my house after a rainstorm, or in the creek near my Dad's childhood home. I would watch each leaf as it floated and swirled, sometimes getting stuck and then breaking free. If it started to go out of visual range, I would run after it until I couldn't see it anymore. I sometimes still visualize a leaf floating down a stream when trying to go to sleep. Amazing how childhood memories can stick with you!
 

This is one of our family's all-time favorite books.

Paper, 62 pages.

#2034 $11.95 $10.99
 

Paddle-to-the-Sea is also available on CD. Wonderfully read by Terry Bregy. Unabridged running time: 60 minutes on 1 CD. While this item is currently out of stock with the publisher (it is being reprinted), we have a small supply in stock.

CD: #114X $16.95 $13.99



Seabird
- Learn world geography as you follow the adventures of an ivory gull named Seabird, carved by a cabin boy. A story of sailing, ships and whaling that follows 4 generations of seafarers; it is actually my least favorite Holling book because of the whaling component. It sparked discussion within our family; and we enjoyed other aspects of the book.

Paper, 64 pages.

#6815 $11.95 $10.99



Tree in the Trail
- Over a period of 200 years a cottonwood tree witnesses what happens on the Santa Fe Trail. Readers will become acquainted with the story of the earliest Indians, Spanish conquistadores, buffalo stampedes, wagons moving west and more.

Paper, 64 pages.

#534X $11.95 $10.99




A Literature Approach to Geography, History and Science Using the Holling Clancy Holling Books
by Rea C. Berg. A 14-page guide to use in conjunction with the above four Holling classics. Intended as a year-long study to cover geography, history, science and more (we'd use it as a reference). It's also designed to be used with the four maps available below.

Three main geographic regions of North America are covered as well as an introduction to world geography in the book, Seabird. The North American regions covered include the Great Lakes, St Lawrence River & North Atlantic (Paddle-to-the-Sea); the Great Plains & Southwest (Tree in the Trail); and the Mississippi River & Gulf of Mexico (Minn of the Mississippi). Includes Christian references.

Ages 7-12. Paper.
 
#BF01 $9.95


Map Pack
This set of four large 18"x24" maps are designed to be used with the above guide, A Literature Approach to Geography.

These high-quality maps are printed on heavy cardstock and can be used to follow the course of the main characters in the Hollings' books, while coloring and labeling geographic locations such as lakes, rivers, mountains and more.

#BF02 $16.95


Geography FUNPak
Includes the above four Holling paperbacks, literature guide, and four maps. Save 25% on the four Holling's books.

#FUN07 $74.70 $62.75


 


Africa Counts: Number and Pattern in African Cultures, 3rd edition - by Claudia Zaslavsky. This fascinating study of mathematical thinking among sub-Saharan African peoples covers counting in words and in gestures; measuring time, distance, weight, and other quantities; manipulating money and keeping accounts; number systems; patterns in music, poetry, art, and architecture; and number magic and taboos. African games such as mankala and elaborate versions of tic-tac-toe show how complex this thinking can be. This third edition is updated with an introduction covering two decades of new research in the ethnomathematics of Africa.

Claudia Zaslavsky was a mathematics teacher and the author of Math Games and Activities from Around the World, More Math Games and Activities from Around the World and other books.

#3505 $16.95
 



Children Just Like Me
by Susan Elizabeth Copsey (In Association With UNICEF, a DK book). Based on interviews with children all over the world, this book includes wonderful color photos of the children, along with information about their families, homes, pets, and other important items (school is included too).

I like it for the same reason I like the Material World. Hardcover, 80 pages

#2017X $19.99





Earthsearch: A Kids' Geography Museum in a Book
by John Cassidy (Klutz) is chock full of interesting, extremely do-able geographic activities that present our planet from a variety of perspectives. The book covers topics such as trash science, population, rocks, maps & navigation, and more. A brief discussion of evolution is included.

Bound into the book is a population clock, packets of rice representing what many people around the world eat,  real foreign coins, and other hands-on tools.

It makes a great gift book, even for those who don't like books as presents (unimaginable in our family!) It also has a wealth of ideas for use with a youth group; I used several of the activities with my daughter's Girl Scout troop, and they were a hit. Of course, it may not make it out of the hands of your own family until it's been thoroughly explored and used.

Targeted for ages 9-12, but teens and adults will enjoy it too.

Spiral-bound, recycled aluminum cover, 111 pages.

#7749  $21.95 $19.99


Fair is Fair: World Folktales of Justice
by Sharon Creeden. This is another book that came highly recommended to us by one of our customers. We love it! The author is a trial attorney who has collected 30 stories from different countries and time periods that illustrate various aspects of law. Each story is followed by sources for further reading and also comments that will sometimes relate the story to our current legal system, items of historical interest, a discussion of a legal principle within the story, and more. It is especially good as a family or group read-aloud (we read these to our children on a long car trip) as it sparks interesting discussions.

These are timeless tales that impart ideas of character and justice all on their own and can be a springboard to further discussions about justice, culture, folktales, forgiveness and other topics. The additional information will provoke deeper study of the principles told . Appropriate for a wide age range (younger kids: read aloud, teens & adults can read independently, but try to read it aloud). There are a couple of stories that may be more appropriate for teens, especially in the fourth section of the book that covers the crime of murder, so you may want to give them a quick preview. Paper, 223 pages
#4775 $12.95

A few of the tales:
The Stolen Smells (United States)
The Warmth of a Fire (Jewish)
The Quality of Mercy (Morocco)
The Pear Seed (China)
Judge Coyote (Mexico)
Whose Children? (Africa)
The Lawyer's Advice (Denmark)
The Thief Who Slid Down a Moon Beam (Turkey)
The Furies (Ancient Greece)

Tip: Pair this with Tales from Cultures Far and Near by Jim Weiss - in our Storytelling section


The Geography Coloring Book
, 3rd edition by Wynn Kapit - Learn geography as you color around the world! All 50 U.S. states are included in this book, as well as the nations of the world. Physical, thematic (climate, rainfall major religions, etc) and political maps are all included. There are also historical maps to show the movement of the continents, the transformation of the Soviet Union into fifteen separate nations, comparisons of eight historic empires to modern-day maps with extensive information on the rise and fall of each.

This is definitely not your typical coloring book! A set of fine-pointed felt-tip pens or colored pencils are recommended for coloring but you can also use this as a great reference atlas without coloring. Includes lots of information with an extensive Index/Dictionary that can also be used to as a challenging quiz.

Third edition. Paper, 200 pages. Older children-adults.

#4722 $24.75 $21.99




Geography from A to Z: A Picture Glossary
by Jack Knowlton. Do you know the difference between a plateau and a plain? Between a knoll and an atoll? Have you ever wondered what a badland is? Or an isthmus? Or a gulch?

Sixty-three different geographic features are described in big type, in one or two sentences, and each is accompanied by a color illustration.

Paper, 48 pages. Ages 4-9.

#0991 $7.99



Hopscotch Around the World: Nineteen
Ways to Play the Game Learn how children in 16 different countries play hopscotch, a game universally popular for centuries. Directions and illustrations accompany each version, as well as notes on each country's influence on the game. This is a really fun way to learn about other countries and their people.

Paper, 48 pages. Ages 7 and up. 


#7453 $6.99




Inflatable Globe
- Make a game of geography. Kids can toss this globe and identify continents, countries, capitals and oceans, or hang for display.

This 12" inflatable globe includes a repair kit and an activity guide.

#2432 $5.95



 

Kids Learn America: Bringing Geography to Life with People, Places & History
(A Kids Can! Book) - States are presented by geographic region, and each is given two to four pages in the book. Includes trivia, easy activities & crafts, recipes and more.

Paper, 176 pages. Ages 7-12. 

#3317 $12.95 $11.65


 

Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time by Dava Sobel. The active quest for a solution to the problem of longitude persisted over four centuries and across all of Europe. Lacking the ability to determine their longitude, sailors were literally lost at sea as soon as they lost sight of land. Ships ran aground on rocky shores; those traveling well-known routes were pray for pirates. In 1714 England’s Parliament offered a huge reward to anyone whose method of measuring longitude could be proven successful. The scientific establishment had spent centuries confidently mapping the heavens for a celestial answer. John Harrison, a self-taught Yorkshire clockmaker, dared to imagine a mechanical solution - a clock that would keep precise time at sea, something no clock had been able to do on land.

This is a beautifully told true story of astronomy, navigation, clockmaking, history, and geography, mixed with intrigue, greed, and ambition.

For experienced readers. By the author of Galileo’s Daughter.

Paper, 184 pages. Size: 7.5"x4.5".

#8795 $11.95

 



The Illustrated Longitude
by Dava Sobel and William J. H. Andrewes. A whole new dimension is added to Sobel’s story with the addition of 183 images, many in color. They were chosen by William Andrewes, a museum consultant specializing in the history of historical scientific instruments, and consist of portraits of import figures, scientific instruments, maps, diagrams, photos of sea clocks, and more. Andrewes’ captions and sidebars add to the tale.

Paper, 216 pages. Larger size: 10"x9".

#5934 $22.95 $18.99



Magnetic USA Kit (Barker Creek) - Includes Magnetic KidUSA Activity Book, set of Magnetic KidUSA magnets (includes magnets for all 50 states and their capital cities - 100 high-quality magnetic pieces), set of Magnetic KidUSA state abbreviations, set of 52 blank magnets for creating your own words, and a blue Magnetic Kidboard (a metal tray on which you can put your magnets).

The 152-page KidUSA Activity book is packed with activity pages, fascinating facts, flash cards, maps and more. It is designed to help children memorize their states and capitals in a fun, hands-on way. It is reproducible for family and classroom use.

The magnets are used with the activity book or on their own. You can also use the magnets on the included metal tray. The tray is also great to use with other magnets you may have (for making words out of individual letter magnets, for example).

Includes book, 3 sets of magnets and metal tray.

#FUN68 $67.91 $49.99 Buy One set available.



Material World: A Global Family Portrait
by Peter Menzel. Thirty different "statistically average" families in thirty countries are profiled. Photographers lived for a week with each family; and at the end of the week, a photo of each family surrounded by all of their material possessions was taken outside of their homes. Statistical information accompanies each photo-essay, providing an opportunity to contrast the different levels of material wealth.

Hardcover. 360 color photos. 255 pages.

#4378 $39.95 $27.99 Buy Sale!




Ready-to-Use World Geography Activities for Grades 5-12 by James F. Silver - a complete series of ready-to-use lessons and worksheets for building basic location skills and knowledge of the continents and countries of the world. The lessons are accompanied by related activities for teaching world geography, map reading, and other world study skills. It is ready for use as a self-contained program or to complement specific topics or areas under study.

Included are over 200 illustrated, reproducible activity pages printed in a spiral-bound format for easy duplication and conveniently organized into ten sections, including: map reading and geography skills; world geography; United States and Canada; Latin America; Europe; Asia and Australia; Africa and Antarctica; activities, puzzles and games; reference and outline maps; and answer keys.

Paper, 314 pages. Spiral-bound. 13.25"x11"x.75". One corner has a crease.

#9457X $29.95 $19.99


Snapshots Across America (Talicor) - Need a Vacation? Snapshots Across America is the Vacation Fantasy Game you can play at home. Travel across a game board map of the U.S.A. by car, train, boat or plane to see top tourist attractions from all 50 states. But watch out for bad weather! A hurricane, blizzard, tornado or other bad weather could spoil your vacation. Win by being the first to visit 7 different tourist attractions that are pictured on the cards.

A fun way to learn U.S. Geography and discover great vacation destinations.

Ages 8 and up, 2 to 6 Players.

#1520 $24.95 $19.99


State Geography Playing Cards (UniversalMap) - So you are going to Florida over Spring break? How many states are you going through to get there? Can you name the state capital of the states as you drive through? State bird? Flower? Nickname? Tree? Who will be the first one in the family to spot a Mockingbird when you get to Florida? There are all kinds of games you can play using this deck. Several are mentioned below or you can make up your own.

The oversized State Geography Playing Cards feature the state bird, flower, tree, nickname, flag, capital city, date of union entrance, population, and area. Comes with instructions for several games such as "Go Travel," Wide World Six Draw," "State War," and more.

#9484 $6.95


Stories from The Silk Road retold by Cherry Gilchrist, illustrated by Nilesh Mistry. - The Spirit of the Silk Road is your guide as you journey through this book from Chang-an (the old capital of China) to Samarkand (a city on the western end of the silk road), following one of the arterial caravan routes of the silk traders. As you travel across treacherous deserts and through lonely mountain passes, you will learn about the importance of silk as a commodity, see some of the distinctive customs of the Central Asia people, and join in many storytelling sessions at starlit oases and campfires.

In seven entries, Gilchrist, who has herself traveled the Silk Road, tells of a Chinese girl who is inadvertently betrothed to a horse, a magic saddlebag found by brothers in Afghanistan, an enchanted garden from Persian lore and more. - Publishers Weekly

Paper, 80 pages. Ages 6-10.

#8042 $12.99 $10.99


The Story of Divaali retold by Jatinder Verma, illustrated by Nilesh Mistry is a wonderful rendition of the "Ramayana," an age-old Hindu epic filled with magic, miracles and adventure. The compelling story tells of a young prince Rama who overcomes Ravana the Demon King. Out of his triumph, Divaali, the Indian festival of lights, is born.

The powerful narrative is perfectly complemented by the jewel-like illustrations of Nilesh Mistry. Drawing on the versions told to him in childhood by his parents, Jatinder Verma brings the essence of this great Indian epic to life for a new generation.

Hardcover, 40 pages. Full-color illustrations. Read alone: ages 6-10, Read together: ages 4-8.

#9360 $16.95 $12.99


StickerUSA Activity Book & Bonus CD by Carolyn Hurst uses U.S. outline maps and stickers to help the user learn state names, capitals, state birds, flags, flowers and postal abbreviations. The 300+ brightly colored stickers can be used to “fill-in-the-blanks” on each state activity page.

State cards printed on perforated card stock so they are ready to pull out of the book are also available. There are fun facts about each state, information on time zones, regions of the U.S., major mountain ranges, rivers and much more. The pages in this book are reproducible and extra sets of stickers may be purchased separately.

Paper, 152 pages. Includes a bonus CD that allows you to print extra sets of flash cards and activity pages.

#1062X $24.99 $22.99

We also have one copy of an older edition that does not have the bonus CD. We are selling it for $14.99. Email to see if it is still available.



StickerUSA Sticker Set
- This set includes 300 high-quality, full-color stickers providing the names of all 50 U.S. states, their capitals, state postal abbreviations, state flags, state flowers and state birds. Helpful keys for these various state facts are printed on the inside of the front and back covers. These keys can be clipped and saved for future use. Included are two pages of blank sticker material so your children can create their own USA stickers.


#1079 $12.99




United States Coloring Book
(Dover) Includes 50 black and white drawings of all the states. Captions beneath each illustration identifies the state's motto, flower, bird, tree, nickname, capital, principal rivers and mountains.

Paper, 56 pages. 8.25"x11".

#1685 $3.95





The Scrambled States of America
by Laurie Keller. Filled with humor and silly illustrations, The Scrambled States of America is a fun way to learn about the 50 states and their locations. Each state is a character, with its own color, shape, and personality. One morning, Kansas wakes up bored and unhappy (what a state to be in!) He and his best friend, Nebraska, decide to organize a party with the other states so they can meet each and have a good time. At the end of the party, Idaho and Virginia suggest that everyone switch places. All the states excitedly agree and soon the map of the U.S. is completely different. After a few days enjoying themselves, each state finds that they miss their old home. Soon, everyone is home and sharing their adventures with their old friends.

The book has lots of introductory facts and silly antics that will make learning geography fun. Each state is listed in the back of the book in alphabetical order along with the name of the capital, square miles, population number, and state slogan. A picture book designed for young children (ages 4-8), its zany humor, funny asides, and wacky illustrations will delight any reader.

Paper, 40 pages.

#8317 $6.95


Tales from Cultures Far and Near
(Jim Weiss) - Classic stories from Japan, Spain, China and more. Wisdom, romance, and humor illustrate our human commonalities. (Have you ever noticed that "trickster" tales are present in just about every culture?) Imaginative twists and intrinsic morals bind the tales together. Length: approximately one hour.

Ages 5 to adult.
 
Cassette: #3088 $10.95 $8.99

CD: #3339 $14.95 $12.99



Throw Your Tooth on the Roof: Tooth Traditions from Around the World
by Selby Beeler. When I was little, the tooth fairy visited my house and left a quarter under my pillow in exchange for one of my newly "lost" baby teeth. I carried on the same tradition with my own children without thinking too much about it beyond wondering what to do with their teeth!

So, it was quite interesting to discover that people around the world celebrate the loss of baby teeth in many different, but also similar, ways. The author groups the brief descriptions by geographical regions (North America, Central America & the Caribbean, South America, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Australia & New Zealand), which allows the reader to see some patterns in the traditions.

Included at the end is a description of the different kinds of teeth we all have and the parts of the tooth.

Aimed at children ages 4-8, it would also make a great gift for a dentist. Try pairing it with the tooth pillow below.

This is a fun, informative book. Lots of colorful illustrations. Paper, 32 pages.
 

#2385 $5.95

Tooth Fairy Pillow (Curiosity Kits) This simple craft kit makes a cute little tooth-shaped pillow to hold a tooth waiting for a Tooth-Fairy pickup. The kit includes everything you need to make one 5" x 5" felt pillow.

Features pre-cut felt with holes, stuffing, self-stick felt, and a special pocket for the tooth and bounty. For ages 4+.

#0571 $5.00



Where in the World? game
(Aristoplay) - This comprehensive world geography game includes the facts about every country in the world including names, locations and vital facts of all 196 countries. With 6 games in one, with six levels of play, it's possible for players of all abilities to play together providing challenge and a world of fun for everyone.

These are the facts you'll learn: country name, continent, flag, capital, population, rank in size, literacy rate, monetary unit, languages, religions, imports, exports, seacoasts.

What's inside: 6 region maps (Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Oceania); 196 country cards (includes every country in the world); 6 wild cards; 1 spinner; 1 bodies of water reference board; 120 playing pieces.

Ages 8 and up, 2-6 players.

#7013 $30.00 $27.99



World Map Playing Cards
(Universal Map) - Card faces of this standard deck feature 50 countries along with Washington, DC and the world.

Have fun with world trivia, as well, including land area, population, growth rate and
top ten by population and area.

#4868 $4.95




More Geography Pages

Horrible Geography


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