Did you know it took 62 years for Arizona to become a state? Or that the Ringtail is the state mammal? Or that the population of Arizona grew 4,000% between 1900 and 2000, making it the 2nd fastest growing state in America (after Nevada)?
These are just a few things I learned from Arizona Way Out West and Wacky, by Conrad J. Storad and Lynda Exley, illustrated by Michael Hagelberg. An official Arizona Centennial project, this book is packed full of interesting, humorous, even gross stories and facts about Arizona. There are also more than 60 activities, from coloring pages to crosswords to recipes and crafts.
Five Star Publications provided me with a copy of Way Out West and Wacky to review, and I personally enjoyed it immensely. It is targeted toward elementary school children; 4th graders, in particular, learn about Arizona in school, and it seems like the text and many of the activities are quite appropriate for that age group. Several of the activities were a bit too advanced for my young daughters. However, my 5-year-old enjoyed hearing the stories and coloring the pictures, and I am sure that as she and her sister get older they will get more and more out of it. My girls are 5th generation Arizonans; we’ll definitely keep this book around as an amusing and fun way for them to learn more about their state!
If you are interested in purchasing Arizona Way Out West and Wacky, it is available on-line at http://www.fivestarpublications.net/westandwacky. It retails for $11.95.
