S is for Sleeping Bear Dunes: A National Lakeshore Alphabet

by Kathy-jo Wargin, Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen (Illustrator)

Overview

Following the alphabet this book uses poetry and expository text to explore the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, which is located along the northwest coast of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Named for its famed dunes, this national part was designated the "Most Beautiful Place in America" in 2011 on ABC's Good Morning America show. Topics include the park's many natural features such as its dune formations, beaches, and forests, as well as its numerous cultural attractions, including an 1871 lighthouse.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781585369171
Publisher:	Sleeping Bear Press
Publication date:	04/01/2015
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,059,348
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD1290L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 9 Years

Editorial Reviews

07/01/2015
Gr 1–3—Employing a similar format to that of several of her previous informational books, such as L Is for Lincoln: An Illinois Alphabet (Sleeping Bear, 2000), Wargin introduces readers to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, a national park located on Michigan's Lower Peninsula, by incorporating a relevant topic for each letter of the alphabet ("C is for Cherries," "D is for Dune Club!"). Illustrations cover two-thirds of each page, while the colored strip that fills the remainder of the page contains three short paragraphs of factual tidbits, written in rather sophisticated language. Accompanying each illustration is a quatrain, most of which feel forced and lacks meaningful information ("L is Lake Michigan!/Freshwater sea—/we'll ride the waves/as they roll … 1-2-3!/Splish! Splash!"). In contrast, van Frankenhuyzen's accomplished oil-painted scenery and portraiture capture visitors, wild inhabitants, and points of interest throughout the day and the seasons in a gentle, painterly style. Images include a family arriving at the beach, children holding freshly picked cherries, and visitors climbing a dune. For many of the illustrations depicting people, van Frankenhuyzen's work achieves an almost photo-realistic quality. VERDICT Though this is an attractive title, the lackluster poetry detracts from the handsome visuals.—Susan Scheps, formerly at Shaker Public Library, OH

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