Australia

Children's Literature

Illustrated by colorful maps and photographs, this geography contains very basic information on modern-day Australia, beginning with a page of geographical "fast facts" including population, size, length of rivers, and so forth. There are sections about the land, the east coast, the Great Dividing Range, Central Lowlands, the Western Plateau, the animals, people, and famous sights. Each two-page spread covers one of the above topics in three to six easy-to-read sentences. Illustrations on a number of the spreads consist of a map on the left-hand page, highlighting the area under discussion, with a right-hand photograph illustrating the beauty of that region. Back matter includes a page relating to map skills, a glossary, recommended reading, recommended Internet sites, and an index. The glossary contains an easy-to-read pronunciation guide. Students looking for anything other than the most basic information or facts about Australian culture will need to look elsewhere, but the book is competently written and nicely laid out for early elementary beginning readers. 2003, Bridgestone Books/Capstone Press, Ages 6 to 10.
— Anne Marie Pace