From Here to There: A First Book of Maps

Description: "One day, Anna's friend Zane sends her an invitation to come over to play, and inside the envelope is a map. But why is Zane's house in the middle and Anna's on the edge? Anna decides to make her own map, and before long, Dad and even Whiskers the cat are in on the fun. From routes to scale, symbols, and points of view, join Anna and her dad as they explore the wonderful world of maps!"--

Review Quotes: 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