A few years ago, I discovered how fascinating maps can be to kids while visiting my four-year-old niece. Though we were surrounded by toys and colorful children's books, she spent an inordinate amount of time with the battered old car atlas we had brought inside with our bags. The fact that it was an over-sized gazetteer surely had something to do with it--the large colorful pages covered with lines and squiggles and letters were irresistible, and she quickly learned to pick out land, water, roads and even railroad tracks. Figuring out where you are is quite a thrill (at any age) and nothing will help your child find their place in this wide world better than a big map on their bedroom wall. There are many aimed specifically at kids. Here are a few standouts.

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