My Map Book

From Publishers Weekly
In non-narrative form, Fanelli (Button) challenges the concept of "map" as she earnestly demonstrates that places aren't the only things that can be charted. Exploring everyday aspects of a child's world, the author mixes the expected, such as "Map of My Neighborhood," with more conceptual subjects: "Map of My Family," "Map of My Day," "Map of My Heart" and even "Map of My Dog." In some ways, the volume resembles a kit: the dust jacket unfolds, revealing a poster of the contents, and empty areas on most spreads encourage readers to personalize the book (on "Map of My Tummy," space is reserved under the heading "my favorite foods"). Fanelli's abstract, mixed-media art includes heavy, blended oil pastels, waxy crayon lettering and snippings from printed matter. Fields of rich color and easygoing disregard of perspective make the work seem approachable and sophisticated at the same time. Ultimately, Fanelli frames a sort of Everychild existence, and although she suggests that her mapmaker is a specific character (with, for example, a sister and a pet dog), she welcomes outsiders' interactions-and possible contradictions. Ages 5-8. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3-A truly unusual offering. There is no story, per se; the book consists of a series of naive, mixed-media, double-page maps that tell a great deal about a child's internal and external life. Fanelli starts with a treasure map, but quickly moves to more familiar territory with "My Bedroom" and "My Family." Activities of a typical day?breakfast, school, lunch, playground, home, supper, story time, and dreams?are divided by broadly painted bands of color. The map of "My Neighborhood" is perhaps the most straightforward, showing home in relation to school, the river, and the playground. Others range from "My Heart" (the child's parents are there, as well as sunny days and chocolate) to "My Face" and "My Dog." The cover unfolds to a poster-sized map with a list of items to find and questions to answer. The other side provides a canvas for "My Own Map," inviting readers to take off on personal explorations. An imaginative, child-centered title that should be examined and enjoyed, and one that will also make a wonderful springboard for teachers introducing the concepts of mapping or autobiography.?Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VACopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Book Description

ANNOTATION

A collection of maps provides views of the owner's bedroom, school, playground, and other realms farther away.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In each spread of this bold and humorous picture book, available for the first time since 1995, children can examine their place in the world around them through detailed and engaging maps. Twelve beautifully illustrated maps such as Map of My Day and Map of My Tummy will fascinate children. When finished reading the book, children can unfold the jacket — it turns into a poster-size map!

About the Author

Sara Fanelli was born in Italy. She now lives in London.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Mary Clayton Rowen

Children will delight in the maps found in this book. They look like they were drawn by a child, and they illustrate things of interest to a child. Examples of some of the maps include her tummy, her heart, her family and her bedroom. Youngsters will further enjoy them when they realize that they are drawn from a child's perspective. An added feature is the removable book cover, which folds out into a poster-size map with a back side for the child to make his/her own map.

School Library Journal