In an autobiographical story, Shulevitz recounts an event from his childhood, when his refugee family had fled to Turkestan. At a time when his family was poor and hungry, his father spent what little money they had on a map of the world instead of on food. After getting over his initial anger and disappointment, young Uri developed a fascination with the map, at first for the bright colors and then for the details that would spur his artistic imagination as he dreamed of faraway places he could visit vicariously. The artist’s whimsical pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations show the places in the child’s imagination coming to life as he flies over continents, picturing what they would be like. An endnote includes a photograph of the author at age seven and two drawings he made while he was a child: a map of Africa, drawn at age ten, and a marketplace in Turkestan, drawn when he was thirteen. All in all, it’s a wonderful tribute to Shulevitz’s father, who obviously understood that sometimes it’s more important to nourish the soul than the body. Honor Book, 2009 Charlotte Zolotow Award (Ages 5–8)

Uri Shulevitz storytells this memoir using his remarkable artistic talent— and few words. The spare text focuses all senses on the illustrations, the heart of the story. Color establishes the mood: shades of reds, grays, blacks, and browns reflect the bombing of Poland. The dismal Kazakhstan room is awash in Shulevitz’s blue pallet, so prevalent in Toddlecreek Post Office (1992). When his father buys a wall map rather than bread, Uri fumes. But the colors and exotic lands transport him, as only imagination can, out of his dispossession into a world he continues to illustrate almost seventy years later. Childhood artifacts conclude the memoir. 2009 Caldecott Honor Award; author has won the Caldecott Medal and two additional Caldecott Honor Awards; ALA Notable Chil dren’s Books, Indie Next Kids’ List Great Read, Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year, CCBC Choice, NYPL Book for Reading and Sharing, Parents’ Choice Honor Books, Charlotte Zolotow Award / Honor Book, NCSS-CBC Notable Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, Booklinks Lasting Connection, Booklist Editors’ Choice, Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Books of the Year, School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, Capitol Choices Noteworthy Titles for Children and Teens, Michigan Great Lakes Great Books Award Master List. lmp

Having fled from war in their troubled homeland, a boy and his family are living in poverty in a strange country. Food is scarce, so when the boy's father brings home a map instead of bread for supper, at first the boy is furious. But when the map is hung on the wall, it floods their cheerless room with color. As the boy studies its every detail, he is transported to exotic places without ever leaving the room, and he eventually comes to realize that the map feeds him in a way that bread never could.

The award-winning artist's most personal work to date is based on his childhood memories of World War II and features stunning illustrations that celebrate the power of imagination. An author's note includes a brief description of his family's experience, two of his early drawings, and the only surviving photograph of himself from that time.
How I Learned Geography is a 2009 Caldecott Honor Book and a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.