From School Library Journal
Gr 3 Up—”Grab your reigns, sip your sweet tea, and get ready for a rollicking A-to-Z ride through the Lone Star State.” This title offers a collection of fast facts about Texas in alphabetical order. Some tidbits will be familiar to most readers, while more obscure trivia is also included. The compendium is peppered with quotes by figures ranging from Davy Crockett to John Steinbeck. Details cover Texan monuments and history—King Ranch, the “Come and Take It” flag, and the 67-foot statue of Sam Houston—to more local fare such as the Kilgore Rangerettes, McDonald Observatory, and the world’s largest honky-tonk: Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth. The information is presented overwhelmingly, with many small captions and illustrations. The source notes are somewhat poorly executed as they are limited and general. While the format is conversational and entertaining, there is a lack of cohesiveness due to the broad focus. VERDICT Readers with a passion for the Lone Star State will enjoy browsing through this alphabet book for older readers.—Jamie Jensen, Coy Miller Elementary School, Little Elm, TX
About the Author
Misha Maynerick Blaise has partnered with brands such as Urban Outfitters, West Elm, CB2, Oopsy Daisy, and the New York Times Style Magazine. She was selected as the winner of a portfolio showcase at the 2015 Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators conference in Austin, Texas. In 2007, she was selected to contribute to a nationally acclaimed public art exhibit in Chicago titled “Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet.” She and her husband own a green-building company in Austin, Texas, and she is also the author of This Phenomenal Life.
