Follow the Line around the world – Book Recommendation

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Today Around the World in 50 Weeks takes us, well, just that – around the world. Follow me.

Follow the Line – around the World

by Laura Ljungkist

Published by Viking in 2008

Themes: Physical Geography, the world, animals, habitats.

Ages: 3 upwards

Opening/Synopsis: 

Follow the line

and take a trip.

We can travel by bus,

helicopter or ship.

Along the way,

who knows what we’ll see.

All kinds of animals

roam proud and free.

This picture book combines my two passions: travel and animals. We follow the line from Kenya to New York and even beyond to outer space, passing through the Sahara Desert, the Amazon Rainforest, the Russian Taiga, Antarctica and much more. Each double page oozes written facts and illustrative details. The illustrations are in one or two colors, mainly in black line drawings, blending ins subtly with the background tone. Sri Lanka, for example, is in tropical mauves with turtles and elephants in patchwork greens. On this tear drop island children can learn, among other facts, that Indian elephants are much smaller than their African counterparts and turtles can live to over 80 years old. You can take a trip along the line and visit villages & cities, seas and deserts and more. This is a book that calls for child participation, not just in following the line, but counting and answering questions. Do you know the color of polar bear skin or the coldest place on the planet? No! Well I suggest a quick journey to your local library to pick up this colorful, informative book. Fun at home, this book is also a great resource for elementary lessons on animals and their habitats worldwide.

 Check here for more Follow the Line books written illustrated by Laura Ljungkvist.
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22 Responses to Follow the Line around the world – Book Recommendation

  1. What an interesting concept for a book — it sounds as though it would be fun, would hold kids’ interest, and would teach them without them realizing they’re being taught. (I love stealth teaching!) Thanks, Joanna!

  2. Lovely, thankyou Joanna, I need to check this out. Very similar to something I have in mind. Great that it teaches so much about the different countries and animals.

  3. Wow, I really like this book. What a creative approach to traveling around the world — follow the line. It looks like it is full of beautiful photos and wonderful information about animals and countries.

  4. We had a book like this when my kids were younger (although the name escapes me). This one looks way better! I want to know the color of a polar bear’s skin! I would guess pink or blue….

    • Joanna says:

      Not telling!! There is a real mix of well known and unusual facts, which is attractive to kids as some they will know already and others they will be surprised by, Julie.

  5. This looks lovely! I was walking to the local children’s book shop yesterday and two kids were chalk drawing on the sidewalk (usually unheard of, by the way, in February in Minnesota). The one was “taking a trip” with the chalk around the block. Reminded me of Harold and the Purple crayon and thinking about where a line could take you if you really wanted to go!

    • Joanna says:

      “Harold and the Purple Crayon have nothing over Ljungkvist, who takes young readers along on a journey from morning to night, from city to sea to village…. with one continuous line.” Kirkus review!! Great minds, Sheri!

  6. Sounds fabulous. I want to travel everywhere. And I want to take my kids with me. I want them to experience all the wonderful places, people and cultures. This book sounds like a fun way to tap into that while they’re growing. So glad you shared!

  7. Heather says:

    Oh, I like the looks of this one! What a great idea to have the reader take a journey to discover the different animals.

  8. Joanna says:

    I know when I travel one of the highlights is the different flora and fauna

  9. This sounds like one that needs to be in our household. Thanks for the recommendation. It also sounds very similar, yet different to a manuscript someone shared at a SCWBI PB retreat. Might be a good “similar title.” If it is, I’ll have to find that guy’s email! Thanks.

  10. Joanna says:

    I think you could simplify it enough for Enzo to enjoy the illustrations, Stacey! Hope it proves useful for the SCBWI guy’s manuscript!

  11. Just dropping by to say you’re getting a great response on my blog today — hope you’ll be able to stop by and answer some of the questions in the comments. (A couple of enquiring minds want to know what boar tastes like, for one thing!) Your interview is definitely a hit!

  12. Ooh, this sounds great, Joanna! Thanks for sharing!

  13. The concept does sound very interesting – will check this out too. 🙂

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