• Go, Go America
• Courtesy of Scholastic Press

Go Go America: 50 States of Fun

by Dan Yaccarino. Scholastic Press, New York City, 2008; $17.99

Although presented and marketed toward school-age kids before they hit the tween years, teens and adults will likely enjoy learning a few things while reading this book as well. Dan Yaccarino sets up the book as map of a road trip journey with the Farley family (Mom, Dad, Freddie, Fran and Fido too), from Maine to Hawaii, but Go Go America’s subtitle, 50 States of Fun, pretty much says it all.

Each U.S. state gets a page or two of illustrations matched with interesting and often hilarious facts about the state and cities within the state. There are historical notes, but the book’s “Did you know” sections provide the most enjoyable tidbits, especially those about obscure laws still on the books in some cities and states. For example, it’s illegal to wear boots to bed in Oklahoma; to wear a hat while dancing in Fargo, N.D.; for dogs to bark after 6 p.m. in Little Rock, Ark.; and to worry a squirrel in Topeka, Kan.

Pros

Provides enough interesting information to get a good feel for each state with fun, hip illustrations without crowding the page. (The pages of a similar book, Our 50 States: A Family Adventure Across America, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, by Lynne Cheney, the wife of Vice President Dick Cheney, are much too visually crowded and difficult to read and made that book more overwhelming than enjoyable.)

While not a true travel guide, there are listed sites to see or quirky contests and festivals—such as Baltimore’s chicken-clucking and hog-calling contests, or the ostrich festival in Chandler, Ariz.—to check out for each of the 50 states that can be added to most itineraries. There’s also a handy list in the back of the book with each state’s capital, statehood date, order of statehood, size, bird, flower, tree, motto and nickname—great for kids (or adults) who love to play trivia or do crosswords.

Cons

The author takes some things for granted that young readers might not be aware of, such as Elvis Presley, Motown and the shag, without adequately identifying their importance in history. Are today’s kids aware of these 1950s and ‘60s symbols? Hard to say, but they may be included more for the kids’ Baby Boomer parents or grandparents.

Worth Buying?

Yes. There’s enough info to keep the book around as a fun reference for vacations to come, and as noted, it can be enjoyed by everyone in the family.