Gilland's lively compositions, which have a retro-cartoon vibe, offer lots of eye-pleasing details on every page of these state profiles. The chatty texts provide basic facts: state capitals, nicknames, mottos, birds, mammals, flowers; regional foods, pastimes, and traditions; mentions of famous landmarks, both geographic (Grand Canyon, redwood forests) and man-made (giant squirrel statue, Kennedy Space Center). Notable populations (Cubans in Florida, Mexicans in Texas, Indigenous groups in Arizona) get their own spreads. Each book opens with an illustrated map of the US emphasizing the featured state. Brief, pleasant visits.