Mapping Sam by Joyce Hesselberth

Once you move beyond the simple concept of counting, getting math books for young children right is very tricky. Hesselberth uses a wandering cat to demonstrate principles of mapping. Sam takes off for a night on the town, after seeing her family (two black-haired children) into bed. The first part of Sam's journey goes around her house and the neighbor's house. The book pauses to show how to demonstrate this on a map, along with a compass for direction and a simple scale for distance.

Then Hesselberth shows other things that can be mapped - Sam's body, including organs and limbs, an instructional map is included (it has a complex color scheme that isn't explained, but maps have always confused me...). Other things that can be mapped are the parts of a flower, the depths of a pond, or something as small as a water molecule. Things as big as the solar system are included as well - each one related back to Sam and her nightly journeys. Sam returns home through the neighborhood and the story ends on a light note, suggesting that the reader try mapping Sam's dreams.

Hesselberth's colorful, geometric illustrations remind me a little of Michael Hall, but the layered colors and textures are all her own. Sam is an eye-popping orange cat who stands out well against the soft, dark hues of the night she wanders through.

Back matter includes thumbnails of the different maps and explaining each one. Ah ha! The color-coded map is a transportation map with routes. It's been... a long time since I used public transportation... it also explains blueprints, constellation charts, and more.

Verdict: Add this one to your mapping books; a great start for a program, class study, or just to read for fun.

ISBN: 9780062741226; Published October 2018 by Greenwillow; Borrowed from another library in my consortium