Brazil

School Library Journal

Gr 2-4-Thematic entries for each letter such as "Dress," "Exports," "Food," "Unusual Places," "Visiting the Country," "Window to the Past," and "X-tra Special Things" introduce not just one item but many that coincide with each featured country. The topics touched upon include history, land, people, and religion. Both books are filled with bright photos, paintings, and maps. Most of the illustrations are captioned. Text size varies on a few pages, which adds to the appeal of the layout. The glossary/pronunciation guides are somewhat limited. However, these are helpful, non-textbook sources for those interested in developing a basic understanding of these countries. Bobbie Kalman's Mexico from A to Z (Crabtree, 1999) is similar in concept. These new titles will be enjoyed by young armchair travelers.-Sandra Welzenbach, Villarreal Elementary School, San Antonio, TX Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.