April 1, 2022
Gr 3-5-The titles in this series cover a range of countries, and each opens with a paragraph from a traveler in the country. Title chapters then overview the climate and geography, history and government, culture and people, and end with current daily life. Every chapter has sections called "Must-See Stop" and "Let's Celebrate!" detailing a place visitors should see and common celebrations throughout the country, such as the Masai Mara National Reserve in Southwestern Kenya where "over 450 bird species live" (Kenya). Much of the format includes longer paragraphs accompanied by full or half-page photos. Pictures are captioned, but vocabulary is not highlighted in any way. The end of each title has a map with key facts, a glossary, index, and a section to learn more both with online and text resources. VERDICT A well-rounded overview for elementary to middle grade readers; good for a school project.
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