The "Exploring the United States through Literature Series" comprises seven annotated regional resource guides to selected print and nonprint materials for grades K-8. Each regional resource is divided into state sections identifying materials that relate to the history, culture, geography, resources, industries, literature and lore, and famous figures of the states in the region. This document focuses on the Pacific states of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington. The book is a selection tool for teachers, school library media specialists, and public librarians. The 720 items offer young people a deeper reader guidance, the 720 items offer young people a deeper understanding of histories and contemporary cultures of the states bordering the Pacific Ocean. In addition to bibliographic data and subject headings, each entry includes a brief annotation. Each annotation describes the work, evaluates its merit, and suggests a follow up activity to encourage young people to extend the ideas or information in the work. An extensive directory of publishers and vendors concludes the bibliography. (CK)