Synopsis
Introduces the geographical, social, and economic aspects of the fifth largest country in the world.
Michele Wilbur - Children's Literature
The "Country Files" series provides current information on climate, geography, economy and government of key countries. Almost as large as the United Sates, Brazil is the largest country in South America and most of its people speak Portuguese. Brazil has three time zones and its land included most of the Amazon rain forest. While the population is increasing annually by about three million people, about half are less than 25 years old. Most Brazilians live in urban areas and few have running water in their homes. Long ago Brazil was only known for its coffee; today agribusinesses account for 21 percent of the nation's gross domestic product. Brazil is now an industrialized nation and this has brought many changes to its environment. The illiteracy rate is about twenty percent, and classroom space is so limited at the secondary level that students attend school in shifts. Popular leisure activities include soccer, car racing and outdoor sports such as hiking and sailing. The book contains a fact file, glossary, and vivid maps, pictures, graphs, pie charts. and a list of Internet sites. 2004 (orig.2003), Smart Apple Media, Ages 9 to 12.