Fun and Simple Pacific West State Crafts

* Reviews *

One of the newest titles in the Fun and Simple State Crafts series begins with an overview of the region of the United States, a U.S. map with the region highlighted, and specific facts and information about each state in a two page chart. Two crafts follow each state and highlight unique features or places. Reader aides include a contents page, an index, a patterns page, and a resources page that includes book resources specific to the states and general U.S. state web resources. The Pacific West states border the Pacific Ocean and include California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii, each with their own history, culture, and specific landforms. Oregon is home to four volcanoes: the Newberry, South Sister, Mount Hood, and Crater Lake. Using a soup can, felt, clay, tissue paper, and glitter, readers can create a Volcano Pencil Holder to represent one of these native volcanoes. Alaskas flag was designed by a thirteen-year-old Benny Benson in 1927 in a flag designing contest. Readers can recreate the flag using poster board and blue- and-gold felt. The only state with its own official native language is Hawaii, where the state bird is the nene, or the Hawaiian goose. Over-hunting has nearly caused the extinction of this bird, but programs are now in place to protect the nene. Readers can create a Nene magnet using poster board, markers, and a magnetic strip. This would be an excellent resource while learning the states, or just for fun, and would make a good addition to any bookshelf. The author could have improved this book by including photos of each attraction or area of interest highlighted in the crafts, therefore giving the reader an opportunity to visit the area visually., Children's Literature