We usually turn to books for research and to reinforce themes. Since the children are already familiar with maps from our travels and nature hikes, we are ready to delve deeper into cartography and study up on maps.

Here are a few picture books we’ve found that work well with our study of maps. What are your favorites?

As the Crow Flies: A First Book of Maps: This is a clever introduction to the concept of mapping. Several animals take a journey and then a lovely map illustrates the landscape.

Me on the Map (Dragonfly Books): A great introduction to the concept of zooming in and out to focus on details or look at the “bigger picture”.  This is an essential geography and history skill and an important “habit of the mind” that will help children in their lifelong learning.

Where Do I Live?: This book is very similar in concept to Me on the Map, with more text aimed at a slightly older audience.

There’s a Map on My Lap!: All About Maps (Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library): The Cat in the Hat, with some help from Thing 1 and Thing 2, leads Sally and Nick on a cartographic adventure. The rhyming text helps my kids remember concepts and vocabulary, such as scale, legend, and compass rose. This is a fun introduction to map basics.

Mapping Penny’s World: A young girl learns about maps at school and then maps her room for homework. She decides to map her dog’s world, as well, including Penny’s hiding spots, the shortcut to visit another dog, the park, around town, and eventually places Penny might want to visit throughout the world. Although this is a great concept, I found I had to do a lot of the “work” as the reader, filling in the gaps of information for my kids and engaging them with the maps in the book. If your kids love dogs, though, this may be just the “hook” to get them into mapping their world.

Follow That Map!: A First Book of Mapping Skills: When Sally and her friends look for her missing pets, the result is a fun scavenger-hunt in book format. The wide-ranging search takes them from their neighborhood to the solar system. Kids will get lots of practice reading and decoding maps in this interactive book.

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This post is part of the Smart Summer Challenge. Check out our family’s plans for Week 1: Me on the Map, find out more about the Smart Summer Challenge and grab our free calendar of summer learning ideas, and “like” the Smart Summer Challenge page on Facebook.

Find more great ideas from your hostesses, Candace of Naturally Educational (that’s me!), Amy of TeachMama.com, and MaryLea of Pink and Green Mama!

Don’t forget to come back on Friday, July 1, for the weekly link-up to share YOUR posts and enter to win a $100 credit to your local book shop or toy store of choice, thanks to Juice in the City.

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17 thoughts on “Picture Books About Maps

  1. These are great. I’m so glad you included some even for really young learners–never to early to start introducing these concepts!

  2. רשת מעצבי השיער של ארי שומר מבצעת מזה זמן רב החלקה יפנית תוך התחייבות ל-100% הצלחה ותוך עדכון תדיר של החידושים והטכנולוגיות האחרונים בתחום החלקה יפנית ו החלקה ברזילאית . החלקת שיער יפנית / החלקה ברזילאית מתבצעת ע"י ארי שומר ואלכס (מנהל קניון "הבאר") בלבד, ללא הפרעת עובדים או לקוחות אחרים, תוך אבחון minute ומיומן של סוג השיער והטיפול המומלץ לו.

  3. I am looking for a book I read year ago with my children. This book would be a great way to engage my students in learning map skills. It is a mystery picture book where the reader finds clues (not read in the traditional way, like choose your own mystery series) to the reptile being held ransom. I thought it was titled “Map it” or “Map it out” but none of my searches is coming up with anything remotely familiar. If you could help me solve this mystery, I am grateful.

  4. I love your list of map books! I wish they had been available when my kids were younger. But then I might not have written THE ONCE UPON A TIME MAP BOOK or THE SCARY PLACES MAP BOOK!
    You can find more information about both books on my website: http://www.bghennessy.com. SCARY PLACES has a Facebook page, too. I also post on the B. G. Hennessy Books Facebook page. Since you are on Pinterest, take a peek at my companion boards on those books as well. All About Fairy Tales and Scary Places and Halloween. There is a separate board for each of the maps with related books, lesson plans, treats etc.

    Hope you enjoy them!

    Best,
    B. G. Hennessy

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