Perfect Picture Book Fridays: How I learned Geography

Since 

a.) my passion is to make Scripture and History come alive for my readers, and 

b.) I am advised to read similar picture books to the ones I plan to write, and 

c.) I've been thinking about joining Susanna Hill's Perfect Picture Book Fridays, and 

d.) I wanted another focus for my posts...

Here is my first contribution to PERFECT PICTURE BOOK FRIDAYS!

Each Friday, I will feature a fiction picture book based on true events to preview for teachers, librarians, parents and writers...and now, on to an author who's text and illustrations fascinate me:

Ta-DA!

Title: How I Learned Geography
Author/Illustrator: Uri Shulevitz
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Year: 2008
Caldecott Award Winner

Biographical Fiction: 7-10 year olds

Themes: Geography, Family, Moving to a strange land, Russian language, Maps, Kazakhstan, building character.

Summary: As he spends hours studying his father's world map, a young boy escapes the hunger and misery of refugee life: Based on the author's childhood in Kazakhstan, where he lived as a Polish refugee during World War II.

Why I like this book: It is based on a historic event, and is a look into the author's life.  The illustrations are vibrant and inviting, reflecting the Russian/Middle East culture.

Here are some helpful websites for activities relating to the subject of the book:

Geography

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/geography/

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/geography/teacher-resources/6642.html

http://pinterest.com/debchitwood/kids-geography-activities/

http://www.mrdonn.org/geography.html

Russian Language

http://www.digitaldialects.com/Russian.htm

http://countries.mrdonn.org/russia.html

Have you ever moved far from your home?  How did you feel?