Mapping My Day by Julie Dillemuth

Mapping My Day
by Julie Dillemuth
Illustrated by Laura Wood
Expected Publication March 13, 2017
Magination Press
Hardcover
Picture Book
Review copy provided by publisher and Blue Slip Media

Goodreads Summary
Flora loves drawing maps and uses them to tell us about her life! Mapping My Day introduces spatial relationships and representation: where things and places are in relation to other things. This book intends to show readers how maps can convey information, inspire children to draw their own maps, and introduce basic map concepts and vocabulary. Spatial thinking is how we use concepts of space for problem solving and is shown to be a key skill in science, technology, engineering, and math. Includes a "Note to Parents and Caregivers" with extra mapping activities.

My Thoughts

As I was reading this book, I immediately thought of the 2nd and third grade teachers that teach early mapping and geography skills. This books would make a good read aloud to launch the unit. 

Through her narration, Flora weaves in the geography and mapping skills that she uses through her day starting when she wakes up with the sun in her face since her room faces east. She shows the treasure map she created to find the box of treasures she has hidden from her brother and describes why she planted maple tree seeds to create shade on the playground slide that faces west. 

Many maps are weaved throughout the books using symbols, legends, grids, and a compass rose. The list of geography and mapping terms in the book include:

cardinal directions

compass rose

map scale 

landmarks

symbols

legends

route

The back of the book contains blank maps and activities that can also be downloaded and printed using the link provided. 

The book's  illustrations are simple with a variety of page formats. The characters represented are racially diverse. Flora's adorable shaggy dog makes many appearances throughout the story. I really love the cover that has various maps around the edges. 

I would recommend Mapping My Day for grades 1-3. 

About the Author

Julie Dillemuth was mystified by maps until she figured out how to read them and make them, and it was a particularly difficult map that inspired her to become a spatial cognition geographer. She lives with her family and writes children's books in Santa Barbara, California, where the west coast faces south. Visit her at her website: http://juliedillemuth.com.

Check out the fun activity pages on Julie’s website, and at:

http://www.apa.org/pubs/magination/441B206.aspx?tab=1

Visit illustrator Laura Wood's website

I would like to thank Blue Slip Media for offering a giveaway of Mapping My Day. Enter in the rafflecopter below. 

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