Although this is a non-fiction book it is extremely entertaining for elementary students. This book is all about embracing change and being ready for it when it comes. It seems there is a prevalent attitude that emerges among each generation that things are fine the way they are and that because it's always been this way (for as long they can remember) it doesn't need to change. This book explores that change can be beneficial and good if embraced and accepted. I found it very interesting to read and my children all really enjoyed it. This is an excellent book - I highly recommend it for teachers (public and home school alike).

Thank you to the author for this review copy.
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Interesting idea that doesn't quite gel. ( )

“Mr. John Slack, the keeper of the tavern beside a rutted dirt road in the early 1800s, thought things were just fine the way they were. So did Lucious Stockyon, who ran the National Road Stage Company in the mid-1800s. So too, the owners of the railroads when the first Model-T appeared in 1908. Yet with each new innovation, Americans were able to move around the country more quickly, efficiently, and comfortably. Connie Wooldridge offers an innovative, yet light-hearted look at how the dirt roads of the early 1800s evolved into the present-day U.S. Highway system. Richard Walz’s richly-rendered paintings capture the broad seep and the individual impact of the change and progress.”

Just Fine the Way They Are, subtitled From Dirt Roads to Rail Roads to Interstates” will have kids (mostly boys), glued to the pages. It is laid-back enough to keep a young kid’s attention while having the information to explain how The United States has developed its transportation system. The theme of travel being “just fine,” meaning ‘no need to change what we are use to for some new fangled thing I won’t like,’ is wonderful. Even today, that attitude prevails, especially if the change is a big one. Yet, when the “new fangled” thing was built, the country was better able to move around, and at a time when the West was expanding. Today, an interstate or highway connects nearly every city and town in America.

I understand the attitude of “just fine.” Today, in a pocket or purse, nearly everyone carries a cell phone– except me. Sure, I own one, only after getting a flat tired late at night. Yet, I do not carry it around, because I am “just fine” with my landline. I do not see the need for twenty-four hour phone access. Yet, look what cell phones now do for people. Time saved, important calls not missed, and the Internet, and all that has to offer, is at one’s fingertips. The same occurred with the roads. The guy who owns a business by the dirt road doesn’t think a railroad is needed or the Interstate, yet most people are better off for having those. This book does a great job of explaining the prevailing attitudes and the progress made on the roads in America.

The illustrations are terrific, colorful and accurate. I can see a little boy infatuated with cars and trains drooling over the pictures. Just Fine the Way They Are is a good book for the classroom, a book report, and for story-time. With this book, you are also going to get two stories for the price of one. The first is the important history of the Interstate system. The second, more amusing, is the “just fine” attitude of the old versus the new. What about you? Do you like things Just the Way They Are?

Received book from author.
Review courtesy of Kid Lit Reviews . . . http://wp.me/p1sRJW-ia ( )

JUST FINE THE WAY THEY ARE:FROM DIRT ROADS TO RAIL ROADS TO INTERSTATES by Connie Nordhielm Wooldridge,illustrated by Richard Walz is a wonderfully written young adult read with two hundred years of American highway system history and wonderful illustrations. Young and old alike will enjoy this story of read.A great way to help anyone understand our highway system better.A must read for parents,grandparentss,children,teachers,as well as a great learning tool. From 1800's until 2004,sometimes things are "Just Fine the Way They Are". This book was received for review from Bostick Communtications and the author.Details can be found at Calkins Creek ,an imprint of Boyds Mills Press,Inc. and My Book Addiction Reviews. ( )

Just Fine the Way They Are
By: Connie Nordhielm Wooldridge
Illustrated By: Richard Walz
ISBN: 9781590787106
Format: Hardcover

My Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads’ Synopsis: Change. Who needs it? We do! Mr. John Slack, the keeper of a tavern beside a rutted dirt road in the early 1800s, thought things were just fine the way they were. So did Lucius Stockton who ran the National Road Stage Company in the mid 1800s. So too, did the owners of the railroads when the first model T appeared in 1908. Yet with each new innovation, Americans were able to move around the country more quickly, efficiently, and comfortably. Connie Wooldridge offers an informative, yet light-hearted look at how the dirt roads of the early 1800s evolved into the present-day U.S. highway system. Richard Walz's gorgeous paintings capture both the broad sweep and the individual impact of change and progress.

This really is an amazing book. It gives kids a ton of history about the transportation system in the United States, but keeps everything light and fun. It is probably better suited for older elementary age children (My son is six and he started getting distracted about halfway through). His favorite part was the introduction of the steam engine and the race between the engine and the horse drawn cart. It was truly exciting.

While the book does slightly poke fun at both the “old-fashioned” and the new (mostly our persistent resistance to change), it does touch on the subject of pollution and the depletion of our natural resources, largely due to the transportation system. I think it is a great platform to start further discussion with children about innovation as well as how we have changed over the years, in many ways for the worse (in my opinion).

The book itself is large, and the illustrations are big and colorful. I was able to talk with my kids about the illustrations and how they were related to what we were hearing in the story. For instance, when they are building the National Road, we talked about how the road was still dirt (rather than paved), but they were having to dig the big rocks out and smooth it out so the wagons could travel over it safely.

This is another children’s book that is written with some advanced vocabulary. Having a child that reads at an advanced level, I appreciate having these books that are more challenging for him. He learns so much better this way!

I absolutely recommend this book for both its historical content and entertainment! It made me wish for a simpler time….sigh… ( )