Frenchy's Float

K-Gr 3 These hybrid titles offer a story framed by sidebars of facts on the outside edges of each spread. Extras, including a "What to do in]" page; lists of facts such as state symbols, birds, and statistics; and a brief "What do you know?" quiz round out each title. The books strive to do too much, and some inconsistencies are evident. In "Cape Cod", for instance, a sidebar lists Boston as the 16th largest city in the United States, while the "Massachusetts at a Glance" page lists it as the 20th largest city. Also, the stories are slight and the factual information is limited. The books combine photographs and maps in the sidebars with colorful drawings in the middle of the spreads, which looks crowded. For students needing introductory information for reports, stick with the "Welcome to the U.S.A." series (Child's World)."Lisa Gangemi Kropp, Half Hollow Hills Community Library, Dix Hills, NY" Copyright 2010 Media Source Inc.