Clothing

Children's Literature

Readers will enjoy the vibrant colors on the cover of this book before cracking it open. A hot pink border frames the glowing face of a young girl wearing a headscarf. This book, featuring clothing from around the world, touches upon the different types of apparel suited to a variety of locations. Readers may discover that Peruvian women wear certain kinds of hats in specific areas of the country and that the Masai people from Africa wear loose fitting clothing in an effort to stay cool. The book's format consists of ten two-page spreads, made up of a clear photo depicting a country's clothing, as well as a world map starred with the location discussed. On the same page as the map, readers will find simple text in set patterns. Each text page begins with a statement about the location of the country and three to five more sentences follow. Young readers will quickly grasp the meaning of the text and after a few reads will be able to rattle off the gleaned information. This book is one in the "Eye Opener" series that gives non-fiction a boost. Add it to any classroom to increase knowledge of people around the world. A table of contents, index, and sources for added information round out the book. 2002, Blackbirch Press/The Gale Group,
— Nancy Garhan Attebury

School Library Journal

Gr 2-4-If children can get beyond the offensive series trademark cover photos of a youngster with bulging eyes, they are in for whirlwind tours around the globe. Each title takes 10 one-page stops in different countries. Spreads consist of a full-page, full-color photo opposite four or five lines of simple text and a small world map pinpointing the nation's location. Clothing focuses on traditional and clich d examples. For instance, the U.S. is represented by a cowboy in chaps, Japan by a geisha in a kimono, Canada by a Native American citizen in ceremonial dress, and Tibet by Buddhist monks in colorful robes. Three of the 10 pictures focus on headwear. Mention is sometimes made of clothing not depicted (kente, sari). Throughout, the point is made that climate (and sometimes religion) determines dress. People establishes the location of each country it zeros in on, followed by two facts about it. The attractive photos of men, women, and children impart a sense of dignity about their subjects. These books will help children understand the ways in which people around the world dress and possibly look different, but many libraries already have books that do that, notably Ann Morris's titles.-Daryl Grabarek, School Library Journal Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.