From Here to There: A First Book of Maps

At the start of this cartographic picture book by French (the Knight in Training series), young Zane, portrayed with brown skin, sends his pale-skinned friend Anna an invitation to visit him, along with a hand-drawn map from her home to his. "Clever Zane," says Anna's father; "But he's put his house in the middle," Anna objects, "and our house on the very edge. That's not right." As Anna draws her own version, running into issues with orientation and scale, her father shows her variations via a printed map ("Imagine you're a bird.... This is how you'd see things when you looked down") and a family tree. Notes throughout elucidate map-related concepts ("The size of things on a map, compared to real life, is called the map's scale") as the story moves toward its end, in which Anna confidently leads her father to Zane's home. Huang (And I Think About You) paints the figures in a loose, naturalistic style, and shows the maps close-up, clearly distinguishing between various iterations. It's a subtle look at the documents' inherent subjectivity that may inspire readers to pursue projects of their own. Ages 3-7. (May)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Delightful . . Engagingly naïve but legible illustrations of the children's efforts meld beautifully with Huang's simple but expert watercolors. . . Throughout, the warm connection between Dad and daughter comes through clearly. This winsomely illustrated exploration of maps is the perfect entry to understanding—and embracing—cartography.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Enthralling. . . . Playfully illustrated by Ya-Ling Huang in vibrant pastels, watercolors, gouache, and colored pencils, this delightful story featuring diverse characters is just right to use as an introduction to maps and map concepts.
—School Library Connection (starred review)

Along with the simple story, most of the book's double-page spreads include a few sentences of map-related information, such as the value of small-scale maps to show large areas, and the space-saving use of symbols instead of words. The mixedmedia illustrations are cheerful, and those representing Anna's maps and drawings have a childlike look. For children who enjoy a bit of narrative context along with facts, it offers a visually appealing approach to the topic.
—Booklist