Austin, Lost in America: A Geography Adventure

K-Gr 3--Austin, a small brown-and-white dog, breaks out of the pet store and begins a journey across the U.S., determined to find a real home. He starts in the Northeast and travels across three more broad regions (South, West, and Midwest) before arriving home. Along the way, smart readers will recognize clues predicting his final destination. In addition to the narration of Austin's journey, facts are presented for each of the 50 states. Czekaj's picture book is full of colorful, energetic images produced in his typical witty style, with laugh-out-loud graphic novel-style scenes from start to finish. A map of the states and capitals is color-coded by region, showing the hero's tangled route across the country. This tour of America provides a fresh and funny view, offering less details than Dan Yaccarino's Go, Go America (Scholastic, 2008), but more than Robert Neubecker's Wow! America (Hyperion, 2006). VERDICT Austin's regional U.S. geography adventure will entertain and inform early readers. A recommended purchase.--Gaye Hinchliff, King County Library System, WA