I am always up for a trip somewhere out of the country where I can use my passport. I’ve had many passports over the years and it’s fun to look through them and see the stamps from the many places I’ve been. But, am I the only one who never likes their passport photo?
In the classroom, I always made passports for my students and we spent the year traveling the globe through books, art, music, food and this book:
P is for Passport
by Devin Scillian
Sleeping Bear Press
Picture Book ages 5-9
This book is especially appropriate for the A to Z Blog Challenge as it takes readers globe trotting in alphabetical order. The author covers 26 topics that people around the world have in common. The publisher had artists from around the world illustrate the different spreads making this a truly multicultural celebration.
Have you ever heard of a Paper Town? These are fictional places cartographers insert into maps in order to catch other map makers who copy their work. Click here to read an interesting article about them.
Paper Towns
John Green
Dutton Books
YA Mystery
Edgar Award Winner
In the book, Paper Towns, the fictional town of Agloe, New York, plays a prominent role. This young adult novel follows studious Quentin and his free-spirited neighbor, Margo. The two were friends when young but grew apart when they entered high school. One night, Margo asks Quentin help her get back at an old boyfriend. Then, Margo disappears and Quentin decides he will find her following clues she has left behind. This is an excellent book for fans of YA mysteries.
And, for a bit of fun…
Mermaids on Parade
written and illustrated by Melanie Hope Greenberg
G.P. Putnam’s Sons
picture book ages 5-8
This picture book begins – Once a year when vacation starts I march in a parade to celebrate the opening of the ocean during the summer solstice…
This picture book follows a young girl who dresses as a “shy mermaid coming out of her shell,” as she joins many others in the annual Coney Island parade when “mermaids, Neptunes, and other legendary sea creatures leave their oceans to walk on land.” The illustrations are joyful, bright, and festive and include this wonderful map of the parade route.
Thanks for traveling through literary maps with me.
I’ve never heard of paper towns – very neat! Kind of like Easter Eggs in books, video games etc.
When I lived in NYC, I went to the Mermaid Day Parade in Coney Island every year. It was quite the sight and a lot of fun!
I’m hoping to get to the parade someday. It does sound like fun!
I have not heard of Paper Towns done by mapmakers . So interesting!
I LOVE John Green’s books and my favorite remains Looking for Alaska, but Paper Towns comes pretty close, because of what you explains so well in this post.
The PB sounds really good. No surprise since Sleeping Bear Press publishes excellent books for kids.
The tilles of the first book is just perfect for your challenge.
Thanks for the link to the paper tows article. Very interesting!
I always keep my passport handy!It looks like I’ll make 4 international trips this year.
This is why I enjoy the AtoZ Blog Challenge because I learn something new every day as I visit those who are participating. This blog is one of my most favorite blogs this year for that reason. Now I know something about Paper Towns. Thank you.
Hi Stephany – what a wonderful compliment. I am enjoying your a to z theme since bookstores are my favorite places.
Hi Claire – loved reading this up … all of those are fascinating – I might spend some time in the child’s portion of the library to see if a few of these books are there for me to quickly look at. Also clever idea teaching your kids – by using and making a passport for each of them … I had heard of paper towns … and that idea of ‘copymarking’ original works … I think they did in the A-Z of London … the map book. Lovely post – cheers Hilary