Only in America Activity Book, by Alan Berry Rhys (Illustrations)

As a former teacher, I looked at this for not just how well it might serve children of the target age, 6-10, but what other ideas it might spark in the adults about them. I'd say it should be relatively easy to not just come up with other ideas but adapt the activities given to other age brackets. That is a real plus. Since I didn't have any 6-10 year olds handy this snowy day in Alaska, I made a point of looking closely at the activities. The author and illustrator made that easy with bright colorful, even whimsical drawings. I will also note that as one who grew up with maps showing my now home state of Alaska plopped down near Mexico or even in the Gulf of Mexico, it was nice to see a map rendered showing both Alaska and Hawaii in a more more accurate location.

What sort of activities will you find in this book? As the blurb says, you'll find "crosswords, word searches, mazes, quizzes, coloring, and so much more." I liked how most involved thinking things through, too, so to speak. For instance, the Fruity Sudoku and "Yard Sale" activities involved not just seeing relationships but how they worked together. I've seen countless more complicated similar activities aimed at adults, so these were good introductions to using one's mind to order things and see relationships. Since these activities are aimed at relatively young children, they rely as much on the drawings as numbers, I noted. Crosswords also utilized that tactic, using illustrations as well as scrambled words for word searches and such. In other words, some problem solving involving the brain. The imagination is also engaged with some activities asking users to draw a picture of their own or write their own thoughts. In other words, there is a bit of everything and just enough variety to keep children, at least those not accustomed to the blinking lights of video or cell phones, engaged.  

Thank you #NetGalley and #QuartoPublishingGroup for helping entertain me on a snowy afternoon in Alaska. And, as noted, thanks to the author and illustrator to showing my home state in a far more accurate location.