"This Land Is Your Land" by Catherine Ciocchi & illustrated by Cathy Morrison

Hardcover: 9781628555578, $17.95

Paperback: 9781628555660, $9.95

About the book: Take a trip around the world to discover a wide variety of Earth’s landforms and geological features through the rhythmic verse in This Land is Your Land. On the journey encounter plains, plateaus, and rolling hills. Find out how a stream can make a canyon or lava creates an archipelago. Read aloud and discover new terrain with the flip of each page.

Review: When I saw the title of "This Land Is Your Land," I immediately thought of the wonderful song by the same title. Alas, it was not in anyway connected to the song. It was, however, a great beginning book on geographic details of this wonderful World in which you and I live. Each two page spread is illustrated with youthful animated-style by Cathy Morrison showing the featured geographic typography the text describes. In a small box off to the side of each, there is further information provided.

Catherine Ciocchi has written in rhyming cadence a sweet and simple geography lesson. Kids won't even realize that they have just had a lesson geography. This is educational entertainment done well.

At the back of the book, there are several pages of additional information geared toward the child's learning more about the subject. The child can use these additional pages for learning map skills, land masses, and the causes of movement of earth. Super good information. (rev. V.Godley)

Author: Catherine Ciocchi (pronounced “Chokey”) has a degree in geology and teaches physical and earth science. Catherine has published several short stories and this is her debut picture book. She lives in New York with her husband and three sons. Visit Catherine’s website at CatherineCiocchi.com.

Illustrator: Cathy Morrison may have started her art career in animation but she soon fell in love with illustrating children’s books and has been doing so for 20 years. Cathy has illustrated Daisylocks, Nature Recycles: How About You?, Three Little Beavers, Animalogy: Animal Analogies, Dino Tracks, and Dino Treasures for Arbordale. Other titles Cathy has illustrated include Ig nacio’s Chair, and the Young Patriots Series including Alexander Hamilton, Young Statesman; Frederick Douglass, Young Defender of Human Rights; and Juliette Low, Girl Scout Founder. Cathy works from her home overlooking a beautiful view of the Mummy Range, on the northern side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Check out Cathy’s blog at www.cathymorrison.blogspot.com.

DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy was provided by Arbordale Publishing to facilitate this review. Opinions expressed are those of the reviewer. No compensation was received for this review.