Calvino, Italo. Invisible Cities. This fascinating piece of fiction by one of Italy’s most beloved writers, depicts a fictional conversation between Marco Polo and Kublai Khan that explores the questions of discovery, conquest, exploitation and intrigue that can surround the of mapping the world.
Garfield, Simon. On the Map: A Mind Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks. New York: Gotham Books, 2013. A fascinating study of how much maps have become an intricate part of our world. Chapter twenty-two, Mapping the Brain, includes findings on brain studies and case studies that parallel the Phineas Gage reading.
Jacob, Christian. The Sovereign Map: Theoretical Approaches in Cartography throughout History. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2006. This comprehensive look at maps and mapping introduces not only a history of maps, but also examines the intricacies of maps and the way that we as individuals and as a society interact with maps.
Jennings, Ken. Maphead. Charting the Wide, Weird World of Geography Wonks. New York: Scribner, 2011. Jeopardy champion and map enthusiast, Ken Jennings examines some interesting and fun anecdotes around our culture of maps and mapping.
Monmonier, Mark. How to Lie with Maps. Chicago; University of Chicago Press, 1991. An interesting study of how maps, simply by their nature (and sometimes intentionally or not) are open to various interpretations that can be deceiving.
Polo, Marco. The Travels of Marco Polo. New York: Penguin Classics, 1958. This travel journal written by the legendary traveler, is a must in discussion of the history of travel writing.
Resources for the Classroom
Barber, Peter. The Map Book. New York, Walker and Company, 2005. This rich collection of photos of maps begins includes hundreds of maps dating from 1500 BC to modern times.
Belliveau, Denis & Francis O’Donnell. In the Footsteps of Marco Polo. New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2008. This large, colorful book is a companion to the 2008 PBS film on a pair of young men from New York, one an artist and one a photographer, who set out to retrace the footsteps of Marco Polo’s 25,000 mile trek across Asia.
Berthon, Simon, Andrew Robinson, Patrick Stewart. The Shape of the World: The Mapping and Discovery of Earth. New York: Rand McNally, 1991. From the oldest surviving map of the world to the history of mapping around the world, this beautifully illustrated book is a companion to the six part PBS series on maps and discovery.
Fleischman, John. Phineas Gage; A Gruesome but True Story about Brain Science. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002. The main text for this unit, the story of Phineas Gage is the story of the life of a nineteenth-century railroad worker whose life is turned on end after an accident with explosives.
Lewis-Jones, Huw, editor. The Writer’s Map: An Atlas of Imaginary Lands. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2018. This colorful and unique atlas examines maps depicting journeys of some of the world’s most favorite literature including Robinson Crusoe, Winnie the Pooh and John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley and many others.
Children’s Resources
Balkan, Gabriella. The 50 States; Explore the USA with 50 Fact-Filled Maps. London; Wide eyed Editions, 2016. This colorful and creative book has pages of infographics and facts that will inspire students to be more creative with their own maps. There is an activity book that can accompany the book.
Mizielinska, Aleksandra. Maps. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2013. This richly illustrated book utilizes maps to introduce facts about cultures from around the world to young readers.
Mizielinska, Aleksandra. Maps Activity Book. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2015.
Wright, Ian. Brilliant Maps for Curious Minds; 100 New Ways to See the World. London; Granta Books, 2019. This thought provoking atlas creatively interprets maps in a number of categories including People and Populations, Crime and Punishment, National Identity and more.
Smithsonian Children’s Illustrated Atlas New York; DK Publishing, 2016. My students love the DK series so this illustrated Atlas will be a nice addition to any classroom library.
