Books of the Week: The Junior Geography Detective Squad Series by Elysabeth Eldering

Today I have a fun and inovative book. How much do you know about the different states in the union? I know I'm rusty on my facts as I studied the US many years ago.

Elysabeth is in the process of developing this great series of 50 books to teach our children, and us, all about each state and all US territories like Puerto Rico.

Here is her synopsis of these most interesting books:

Matt Patterson, Guy Lombard, Mary Beth Patterson and Jolene Ariette take on the newest handheld game to help them in their study of social studies course of US History (geography and trivia information about each state). Each book in the series will be presented as the game giving them "clues" which are basically facts and trivia information that can be found most any place about the states. The kids have to guess the state by the end of the book. Readers are encouraged to participate in guessing as well. Guesses may be changed during the story as no one is expected to get the state immediately. Some clues are more helpful than others and some are just downright fun. This is a fun way of learning something you never knew about state history and geography.

There are bonus clues to five territories throughout the series, one per book with a total of ten per each of the territory (Guam, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, US Samoan Islands). The ten clues will not come consecutively; the five territories will be one clue every sixth book for each of the territories. There will be a bonus clue section at the end of the series, recapping the clues, which book they appeared in and what the territory is in that book.


Teacher's guides are available through special order from 4RV Publishing. They are available only as a PDF download. The teacher's guides will contain six research projects/discussion questions, a science experiment based on one of the clues in the book (where possible), a secret message puzzle (cryptogram, word search, scramble or other such puzzles alternating per state), and an end of book quiz (about fifteen per book - a mixture of multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and True/False questions).

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I've looked at the first one and it's very complete. What a great way to learn about our country, and if you're not in the US this is a great way for you to learn about it too.
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Books may ordered from

4 RV Publishing

Elysabeth Eldering

posted by Joy Delgado
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Book Tour: Prairie dog Cowboy by V. Gilbert Zabel

Today I'm pleased to share a great book with you all. As part of her book blog tour, Vivian asked me to talk with my readers about her book. Here are my thoughts.


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Prairie dog Cowboy by V. Gilbert Zabel
Life as a Cowboy back in the day

Buddy is five years old and dreams of being a cowboy when he grows up. He tends to the cattle on his pa’s homestead and with the help of his dog Patch does a pretty good job. He works hard, and his neighbor Caleb Hyman recognizes this. He offers Buddy a job, when he can rope a prairie dog.

As the years pass, Buddy gets really good at being a cowboy and many of the neighbors take notice. They bring horses for him to break, cows for him to keep an eye on and he does all this while going to school and taking care of his parents land.

The one thing Buddy doesn’t seem to have is his mother’s love. He doesn’t understand and try as he might by planting the fields, harvesting them when it’s time and taking care of all the outside chores, she doesn’t change her attitude towards him. Then Buddy’s father becomes ill and things get worse. Will Buddy’s mom ever love him? Why does she favor his older brother Jake? Will the brothers become friends? Find out as you read this action packed tale.

V. Gilbert Zabel has a way of spinning a story. Taking a time in our country’s history that is full of change, she tells of this young boy’s trials, tragedies and triumphs. Sprinkled into the story are facts about life as a cowboy back in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s in the Oklahoma territory turned state.
At the back of the book there is some information that helps take this book beyond reading. There are sections about life in “No Man’s Land”, prairie dogs and a set of discussion questions to help reinforce what you’ve read. This book will be a great supplement in any classroom.


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Going with my theme of books going beyond reading, Vivian has added some very good information at the back of this book. She's also told me that she's working on a teacher's guide for even more information. One suggestion she had was to have kids who read the book write how they would act or react if they went through one or more of the experiences Buddy did. This would be a very good project and I bet everyone in the classroom would learn a thing or two from the other students.

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Interested in purchasing your own copy? You can if you go to 4 RV Publishing While you’re there, look around there are lots of great books available.


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Vivian and 4 RV Publishing are giving away 4 canvas bag with the 4RV logo on it. How can you get a chnce to win this? Leave comments during the 8 day tour. She says sorry, but they can be shipped in the U.S. or Canada only.

The other stops along the way are:

February 15:
Ransom Noble
Carolyn Howard-Johnson

February 16:
Beverly Stowe McClure
Jennifer Nipps

February 17 :
Nancy Famolari
Joy Delgado Yes, I'm hosting at both blogs today. Hop over, Zebee is talking with Buddy from the story about what it's like to be a cowboy.

February 18:
Elysabeth also at her other blog
Rena Jones and at her other blog

February 19 :
Malcolm R. Campbell
Chris Speakman

February 20:
Joyce Anthony
Nikki Shoemaker

February 21:
Holly Jahangiri

February 22: - wrap up
Vivian Zabel

Hope to see you in the blog comments!

I'll be back tomorrow with tip number 29.