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Map of the United States 84-piece Jigsaw Puzzle

This 84-piece jigsaw puzzle assembles into the 48 contiguous United States, plus Alaska and Hawaii. The pieces are large enough to be safe for curious little ones and make for a fun and truly hands-on lesson in geography. The mapping is detailed enough to highlight major cities and towns, as well as rivers and some topography. To test your smarts, try constructing it without the benefit of a map. --Tom Keogh

Amazon.com Teacher Review
Along about fourth or fifth grade, students in the U.S. are expected to memorize all of the states, their locations, and their capital cities. If you can manage to get a jump-start on this very necessary chunk of information, so much the better for your child: it will be easier for them to learn later, and there's a much greater chance of permanent retention. This is where puzzles and card games can be really helpful, especially if they're well designed. Milton Bradley's United States puzzle has much to recommend it: it's inexpensive, for one thing, the pieces are large and easy to manage (average size is about 2 by 2 inches), and it contains an awful lot of information. Latitude and longitude lines, major products and industries, and of course major cities and capitals are all represented in simple graphics. Except for a few of the tiny Atlantic seaboard states, puzzle pieces are actually cut along state borders--giving kids a handle on their individual geographical shape. A border of interlocking puzzle pieces keeps them in their proper places. The second grader who enjoys puzzles will learn a great deal just by putting it together a few times; older children--especially hands-on and visual learners--will have a lot more fun acquiring the facts with a puzzle than by desperately (and temporarily) memorizing them the night before a test. --A former home school educator, Julie Robinson currently manages a hands-on lab employing three gifted and professional toy testers ranging in age from 5 to 12.

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Math Play! (Williamson Little Hands Series)

PreSchool-Grade 2?Parents and early childhood educators eager to introduce the marvelous mysteries of math will find numerous suggestions here. However, the format is curious. Stating that the book is for two-to-six year olds, the authors proceed to provide text addressed to children and a paragraph identified as "helping little hands" which is for adults. While the second-person verbiage may be an attempt to be clever, it doesn't work. Perhaps some preschoolers are ready to read "vehicle," "wildlife prowl," "droppings in the snow," and such but most are not. The bold black-and-white cartoons done in a coloring-book style beg to be colored?fine for a home copy, risky for a library. One activity, "Kitchen Fun," suggests putting three measuring cups on the floor, filling the medium sized one up with water, and then seeing if the water will fit in the smaller cup. What about the floor? A curious cautionary notice on the back of the title page states "The information contained in this book is true, complete, and accurate to the best of our knowledge. All recommendations and suggestions are made without any guarantees on the part of the authors or Williamson Publishing. The authors and publishers disclaim all liability incurred in connection with the use of this information." Is it customary to have a "use at your own risk" note in activity books? Math Play! offers quite a variety of number, shape, series, etc., activities; however, use at your own risk.?Jody McCoy, Lakehill Preparatory School, Dallas, TX
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Alphabet Art: With A-Z Animal Art & Fingerplays (Williamson Little Hands Series)

PreSchool-K?This appealing, easy-to-use book offers creative ways to teach the alphabet using poems, crafts, games, fingerplays, and books. Each section begins with a large contour drawing of upper and lowercase letters suitable for copying. The sans-serif, gothic letters are easy to read but the capital "I" and the lowercase "L" may confuse children since they look identical. Simple words highlighting the featured letter are interspersed along the borders, while alliterative poems showcase the letter sounds. One quibble: girls usuallly fill passive, weak, or cowardly roles in these rhymes. While Julius "jogged" and Lyle "lugged," Sue "scurried away" and Isabelle "slipped" and cried. Plenty of cheery, playful black-and-white drawings reinforce the text and clarify simple craft instructions. A useful book for parents and teachers.?Paula A. Kiely, Milwaukee Public Library, WI
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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The Little Hands Art Book/Exploring Arts & Crafts With 2-To 6-Year-Olds (Williamson Little Hands Series)

Midwest Book Review
The Little Hands Art Book is an ideal beginning art book for little hands ages 2 to 6 with lots to express!. Judy Press has an uncanny understanding of how to inspire preschoolers' creative spirits. Instructions are bare minimum, and resulting art is very clever as kids' imaginations take flight with simple materials and only a hint of direction. Over 70 art projects with introductory poems to stir kids' imaginations ex;ore textures, colors, shapes, moods, and feelings. Introductions to basic media include glue, doughs, paint, paper, markers, and crayons. Unusual crafts feature a paper bag picnic basket, muffin cup birds, milk carton caboose, dough porcupine, popsicle stick flower gardens, and a clothespin splatter paint butterfly. Guidelines for parents, teachers, and caregivers for encouraging truly creative art experiences are of especial value.

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Wow! I'm Reading!: Fun Activities to Make Reading Happen (Williamson Little Hands Series)

PreS-Gr 3-This resource is packed with step-by-step instructions for activities designed to encourage and promote literacy. An introductory message for adults provides insight into the importance of letter recognition, phonetics, and writing in the reading process. The reading-readiness activities are simple enough for youngsters to follow on their own, but also present opportunities that will encourage interaction between adult and child. Sidebars include recommended picture books that tie into a particular activity, suggestions for explaining and elaborating on concepts, and examples of "typical content standards for kindergarten language arts." Many of the exercises can be adapted to a variety of ages and ability levels. Boldly drawn, black-and-white cartoon drawings of smiling kids appear throughout. An inviting and useful tool for parents and teachers working with little readers-to-be.-Leslie S. Hilverding, Schuster Elementary School, El Paso, TX

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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The Little Hands Big Fun Craft Book: Creative Fun for 2- To 6-Year-Olds (Williamson Little Hands Series)

From Publishers Weekly
There's something for every sensibility in The Little Hands Big Fun Craft Book: Creative Fun for 2-to-6-Year-Olds by Judy Press, with line art by Loretta Trezzo Braren, a collection of more than 70 suggestions and directions for activities at home, outdoors, "Around-the-World" and in "Special Places" (such as a zoo, museum or library). Kids can make a Brazilian Peek-A-Boo Carnival Mask; bottle bowling pins; a cardboard-carton obstacle course; or a pressed flower card. (Williamson, $12.95 paper 144p ages 2-6 ISBN 0-913589-96-9 Mar.)
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Science Play!: Beginning Discoveries for 2-To 6-Year-Olds (Williamson Little Hands Series)

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-K-Designed to teach basic science concepts, Hauser's guide contains 65 activities to encourage children to "Guess," "Test," and "Find out." Intended to help them discover more about their everyday world, the projects utilize simple and safe household items. Activities such as making a wiggly water necklace out of a clear film canister, taking a walk in socks to pick up seeds, and constructing kites and spinners are a few of the fun ideas offered. Black-and-white drawings decorate and clarify the text. Occasional "Read it" sections recommend books for more information and there are helpful commentary notes for adults. Preschool teachers will find this title especially useful.
Marion F. Gallivan, Gannon University, Erie, PA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.