Summmer Reading #9 ‘Martha Maps It Out’ by Leigh Hodgkinson

✨ About the Book

Martha’s world is full of maps… even for the impossible!

Martha LOVES drawing maps—of everything! From outer space to her own bedroom, and even her thoughts and dreams, she invites readers on a journey through her imaginative world.

Starting in space, the story zooms in step by step: to our planet, Martha’s community, her home, and beyond… into a future where anything is possible.

Packed with quirky details and fun non-fiction labels, each page offers new discoveries and sparks curiosity about the world around us.

📖 Book Information

Illustrated by: Leigh Hodgkinson
Publisher: Oxford Children’s Books (June 2022)
Age: 6–8
Pages: 32
Level: Elementary
Topic: Map reading

🎯 Learning Aim

Introduce children to geography and map-reading skills

🧠 Skills Developed

Map reading
Spatial awareness

💡 What Children Can Learn

General concepts about the universe (Solar System, planets, Earth)
How to read and interpret maps
Development of spatial skills
How to read a city map (locations, prepositions, directions)
Vocabulary related to places in a city
How to read and describe a house map

💬 My Opinion

This book is a fantastic source of vocabulary for language learners and a great introduction to map reading through familiar and imaginative contexts.

Children can explore places they know and places they might visit. It’s also a perfect resource for holidays—encouraging them to look at maps of new cities and think about how to get around.

The idea of zooming from outer space into Martha’s bedroom is simply brilliant! Children will love peeking into her home, comparing it to their own, and describing their favourite room.

Every page is filled with details that invite exploration and can easily turn into fun activities like guessing games (“I spy with my little eye…”).

A unique picture book to revisit again and again!