Maine

Gr 4–6—[Ed note: Two additional titles in this series, Montana and Idaho, are reviewed in this section under Bjorklund.]These titles provide comprehensive overviews of their featured locales. Each volume, which has been updated to include data from the 2010 census, begins with a general overview, followed by sections on history, the people, government, and making a living. "Quick Facts" text boxes, which cover events, famous people, and more, are interspersed throughout the chapters. Large color photos and reproductions appear throughout. Each book includes an activity and recipe, the state song, flag, map, and a spread of prominent products and resources. Local events, such as the Maine Lobster Festival and the Newport Jazz Festival, are described in detail. The chapters are short, but comprehensive, and the indexes are detailed, making these titles solid choices for research. The biggest benefit of these texts is that they mention and discuss the recent recession and its effects on the states' industries and what citizens are doing to combat them. Overall, these are attractive, comprehensive books.—Devin Burritt, Wells Public Library, ME