| Abstrakt: |
The Sam and Nora stories represent the last endeavor of the senior author, who was a teacher first and foremost. Sam and Nora reflect some of the characteristics of the authors' children, who became early geographers and who delighted in words like geomorphology. The stories are short, moving easily, from idea to idea. They are intended for children in grades 3–5; they feature two ten-year olds who are neighbors and friends. It is assumed that the stories will be read by parents or other adults, who will serve as resources for the more difficult words. The experience of reading, listening, and asking questions the way the two children in the stories do will promote learning and provide enjoyment. Sam and Nora work out ideas they find intriguing, often quoting older siblings to strengthen their arguments. They like to talk to each other and often end their encounters with a delightful burst of laughter. It is the authors' belief that young children can understand and master challenging concepts and vocabulary, thus increasing their self-esteem and knowledge of not only geography, but of the world in general. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER] |
