The Scrambled States of America, Laurie Keller
The Scrambled States of America, Laurie Keller
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The Scrambled States of America

Author: Laurie Keller

Narrator: Lorelei King, Oliver Wyman

Unabridged: 40 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/21/2009

Synopsis

At the first annual "states party," Virginia and Idaho hatch a plan to swap spots so each can see another part of the country. Before the party is over, all the states decide to switch places.

In the beginning, every state is happy in its new location. But soon things start to go wrong. Florida, who switches spots with Minnesota, is freezing in the frosty northern climate, and Minnesota hasn't brought sunscreen and is getting an awful sunburn. Will the states ever unscramble themselves and return to their proper places?

Packed with madcap humor, this quirky story--starring all fifty states--is chock-full of introductory facts and silly antics that will make learning geography as much fun as taking a vacation.

This title has Common Core connections.

About Laurie Keller

Laurie Keller is the bestselling author-illustrator of many books for kids, including Do Unto Otters; Potato Pants!; The Scrambled States of America; the Geisel Award-winning We Are Growing!; and Arnie the Doughnut, as well as three books in the Adventures of Arnie the Doughnut chapter book series. Growing up in Michigan, Laurie always loved to draw, paint and write stories. She earned a B.F.A. at Kendall College of Art and Design, then worked at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City as a greeting card illustrator for seven years. One night, the idea for a children’s book popped into her head and after showing the story to several publishers in New York City, she quit her job and moved there. The following year, that story idea was a published book—The Scrambled States of America. Laurie loved living in NYC, but she returned to her home state, where she lives in the woods along the shores of Lake Michigan.

About Lorelei King

LORELEI KING has recorded over 200 audiobooks, including several titles from Janet Evanovich’s bestselling Stephanie Plum series and Darynda Jones’s Charley Davidson series.  Her many awards include the 2008 Audie Award for Female Solo Narration for Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas, the Radio Times performer of the Year for The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood, and AudioFile Earphones Awards for Eleven on Top and Twelve Sharp, both by Janet Evanovich.  AudioFile also deemed her one of the "Best Voices of 2008."  King’s screen credits include Notting Hill, House of Mirth, and Cold Feet, among others. She has appeared as regular and recurring characters in popular British television shows such as Chef, Cold Feet, Alistair McGowan's Big Impression, Emmerdale, and the saucy Mile High. King now makes her home in London, where she lives with her husband, actor Vincent Marzello.

About Oliver Wyman

Oliver Wyman, a native New Yorker, has appeared on stage as well as in film, and television. He is one of the founders of New York City's Collective Unconscious theater, and his performances include the award-winning “reality play” Charlie Victor Romeo and A.R. McElhinney's cult classic film A Chronicle of Corpses. He also lent his voice to several episodes of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Oliver's work as a narrator extends to over 150 audiobooks and has won many him awards, including Audie awards for his reading of Lance Armstrong's autobiography, It's Not About the Bike, and Thomas L. Friedman's The World is Flat. He also read James Frey's A Million Little Pieces, Tim Dorsey's Atomic Lobster, and David Weber's By Schism Rent Asunder. Oliver has won five Audie Awards from the Audio Publisher's Association, fourteen Earphone Awards from AudioFile Magazine, and two Listen Up Awards from Publisher's Weekly. Oliver was named a 2008 Best Voice in Nonfiction & Culture by AudioFile Magazine.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Kelly (Maybedog) on January 02, 2016

Clever and fun with great illustrations and lots of extra dialog in the margins, although poor Mississippi and Nevada and their unrequited love. :(......more

Goodreads review by Amy on June 12, 2019

One of my FAVORITE picture books ever. I used to read this almost everyday as a kid! The story is short and sweet, the illustrations are well done and hilarious. I’m gonna keep my copy FOREVER, its so cute.......more

Goodreads review by Abigail on November 17, 2019

Geography has never come alive as brilliantly as it does here, in The Scrambled States of America, as a discontented Kansas precipitates a massive geographic upheaval with his desire to see something new. Tired of always being stuck in the middle of the nation, Kansas enlists his best friend Nebrask......more

Goodreads review by Lisa on December 02, 2008

This book is a delight. I think it’s adorable. It would not be good as a read aloud but is perfect for independent readers to learn U.S. states geography in a really enjoyable way. Each page is incredibly busy; there is so much to read and look at on every page. It wouldn’t flow smoothly to read it......more

Goodreads review by Sharmin on September 26, 2010

I absolutely LOVED this book! It made me laugh out loud, non-stop! It's a great way to teach geography to students in lower grades. It includes location, place, time zones, each state's unique qualities, and lots of laughs! One way to use this in your classroom would be after reading the part where......more

Quotes

“Charming.” —The New York Times 

“It's hard to imagine a more engaging (or comical) way to learn the 50 states and their locations than in this auspicious debut from Keller.” —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

“Will elicit laughs from all those who thought geography was boring.” —Kirkus Reviews 

“A wacky and absolutely painless look at geography.” —Kirkus Reviews

Awards

  • IRA-CBC Children's Choices
  • IRA Young Adult Choices
  • Parents' Choice Award Winner
  • Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award
  • Pennsylvania YR Choice Award
  • CCBC Choice (Univ. of WI)
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