The best part of this book is the colorful and clear photographs. Students will probably also appreciate the handy "Fast Facts about California" page where they can find out the natural resources, crops etc. about their state. Generally, the text is easy to read, but at times, confusing. For example, the author explains that the last known California grizzly bear was killed in 1922, but then describes the animal's life and habits in the present tense. Also, since it was published in 1998, some of the facts (population and manufacturing) are a little outdated. ( )