I liked the book “Journey around Washington, D.C. from A to Z” for several reasons. First, I really liked the concept of the book. The author introduces the tourist destination of Washington D.C, and then on each page has the letter, description and information to accompany it. For example, for letter J: “Justices join in judgment.” Then, there is an illustration of the U.S. Supreme Court, with a short paragraph about the Supreme Court. The book is extremely creative and perfect for children who are travelling to Washington D.C. I think along with the writing, diagrams, and labelling, the book is intended for an older audience of children. I even learned a lot by reading it! This nonfiction book definitely teaches children about Washington in an engaging and organized way. The big idea of this book is to teach children about Washington D.C. in a fun and creative way. ( )

In my opinion this book is a good book. I like the book for multiple reasons but I’ll just list a couple. I love how the book is illustrated. Since the book is title D.C. from A to Z, each page deals with a feature of D.C. that begins with that particular letter of the alphabet. The illustrator highlights the specific alphabet in a rectangular box outlined in gold with brilliant art work to depict item they are highlighting. The colors within the rectangle are not bright but are bold and make it stick out from the rest of the picture. The other component of this book that I like is the language in which it is written. The language used is very detailed in giving back ground information about buildings, monuments, the people that contributed to the country’s history, and culture. For instance when it describes the Kennedy Center it says it’s a memorial to the 35th president, has six theaters and host over 3,000 music, dance, and theater performances a year. Its Millennium Stage offers free shows daily. This is just part of the description of the Kennedy Center that is given. This book is very informative and the big idea of this book is to you to visit Washington D.C. ( )

In the beginning, the author gives a clear idea of the book's purpose. She is going to bring the reader on a journey around Washington, D.C., but somewhere on that journey things get a little boring. Each page is so heavily detailed with information and pictures that it takes away from the page's content. The illustrations lack enthusiasm and turn D.C. into a dull place.

The book lacks consistency. One many of the pages, an eagle appears, visiting various sites in D.C. The reader is left to assume that the bird is some sort of tour guide. On other pages, the poor escort disappears. The reader is left to trudge through the pages alone.

Overall, the book is an okay read for elementary students. It definitely should not be used to attract tourists. ( )

This book has wonderful photographs and line as a strong element. I chose this book not only for the facts it provides, but also it has great alliteration, which can tie together our learning about Washington D.C. with our writing lessons.

Age Appropriateness: Primary and Intermediate
Genre: Informational
Media: Watercolor
Review: This is a wonderful book, full of interesting, factual information about Washington, D.C. and all the historical events that have taken place there throughout all of history, which makes it an informational book. It takes students on a visual tour of Washington, D.C. and gives interesting facts that are not only interesting to students, but to teachers and important for learning key concepts in this area of study. ( )