WISH YOU WERE HERE

From Krull (Lives of the Artists, 1995, etc.), a grand tour of the 50 states in the company of Emily and her grandmother. Each state gets a two-page spread, on which a letter from Emily describes local food, historical sights, and the kind of things kids are really interested in, e.g., that malted milk was first made in Racine, Wisconsin. Each spread also includes the state's capital, motto, placement within the US, and an outline map with cities and features of the state indicated. Some states get blue boxes with weird facts, apt or silly quotations, or other unusual highlights. Schwartz's bright, cartoony illustrations clarify and complement the cheery text: Grandma- -round, grey-haired, completely fearless, and always wearing an appropriate hat—is featured prominently in them, as is Emily, who rides rapids, mounts horses, milks cows, visits row houses in Baltimore or a lacy balcony in New Orleans. Krull concludes with a section of addresses for obtaining more information and state facts. Not just for school reports—this volume is far more fun than that. (maps, further reading, index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)