The Fifty States

The Fifty States is a handy, short reference book packed with facts about every state in the USA. Each entry includes the state’s nickname, a story, and fun facts. The twenty-five cent coin stamped for every state is shown, along with the state’s flag and three or four photos of local attractions, landmarks, or recreation. Each state has a little red box of facts that includes the capital city, the postal abbreviation, its 2010 population, its area in square miles, and the state’s motto, state bird, and flower, as well as some popular “Sights to See.” In addition to the states, there are entries for the Caribbean Territories – Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands – and the Pacific Territories – Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. These territories are not actual states, but they are still considered part of the United States. I learned from this book that the last time we had a new state was in 1959 when Hawaii and Alaska were accepted into the union. At the back of the book is a glossary of vocabulary words and a page index.