Overview
Visit Ireland, ancient land of "a hundred thousand welcomes." Learn of the mythic history of this island on the western outskirts of Europe. Share in the many stories, myths, and songs that Ireland has given the world. What is the "Celtic Tiger" and why is it roaring so loudly? Travel west to the "Gaeltacht," where Gaelic is still the language of the land.Synopsis
Visit Ireland, ancient land of "a hundred thousand welcomes." Learn of the mythic history of this island on the western outskirts of Europe. Share in the many stories, myths, and songs that Ireland has given the world. What is the "Celtic Tiger" and why is it roaring so loudly? Travel west to the "Gaeltacht," where Gaelic is still the language of the land.
VOYA
Even though there are already many excellent nonfiction books that explore the countries of the world, this latest series is not to be missed. Known for an incredible attention to the facts and absolutely breathtaking photographs, the publisher does not disappoint and makes the country information more accessible to younger readers. These slim volumes are full of useful and entertaining data on everything from the weather to the economy and much more. Both titles selected for this review, Ireland and Israel, are extremely impressive. The past, present, and future of both countries are covered in fascinating detail in easy-to-understand language that does not talk down to its younger audience. The photographs themselves tell a great deal about the country. For instance, the volume on Israel includes a photo featuring high school students with machine guns stowed under their desks. A powerful image, and like every photo in these volumes, it is accompanied by a clear, concise caption complete with an arrow pointing to the image it is explaining. A section at the end of each volume called, "Add a little extra to your country report," gives tips on Web sites to find further information on things such as the country's national anthem, flag, and currency. This series is perfect for students not quite ready for Scholastic's longer, more complicated Enchantment of the World books. Reviewer: Shari Fesko
Editorials
VOYA -
Even though there are already many excellent nonfiction books that explore the countries of the world, this latest series is not to be missed. Known for an incredible attention to the facts and absolutely breathtaking photographs, the publisher does not disappoint and makes the country information more accessible to younger readers. These slim volumes are full of useful and entertaining data on everything from the weather to the economy and much more. Both titles selected for this review, Ireland and Israel, are extremely impressive. The past, present, and future of both countries are covered in fascinating detail in easy-to-understand language that does not talk down to its younger audience. The photographs themselves tell a great deal about the country. For instance, the volume on Israel includes a photo featuring high school students with machine guns stowed under their desks. A powerful image, and like every photo in these volumes, it is accompanied by a clear, concise caption complete with an arrow pointing to the image it is explaining. A section at the end of each volume called, "Add a little extra to your country report," gives tips on Web sites to find further information on things such as the country's national anthem, flag, and currency. This series is perfect for students not quite ready for Scholastic's longer, more complicated Enchantment of the World books. Reviewer: Shari FeskoChildren's Literature -
From the endearing photographs of cheering Irish children that begin the book, to the images near the end showing Belfast murals that tell of the recent "Troubles" in Northern Ireland, students will be engaged throughout this book. Another high-quality National Geographic product, and part of their "Countries of the World" series, this book provides young readers with a tremendous amount of information in a very accessible format. Knowledgeable authors and consultants lend credibility to chapters on the topics of geography, nature, history, people, government, and so forth. Timelines and maps are provided throughout the book to address different issues. There are several sidebars containing such information as average rainfall, population growth, and other fast facts. Interesting asides add little tidbits about such subjects as Irish dogs, Irish mythology, and bog bodies. The issues surrounding the political division between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are handled in a straightforward and sensitive way. Research aides like an index, a glossary, and a bibliography are age appropriate. An "Add a Little Extra to Your Country Report" feature provides websites, through which a child can dig more deeply into various aspects of Ireland. In a time when books about Ireland are plentiful for all age levels, this book is one of the best for providing a great deal of information in a child-friendly way. Teachers might consider using it around St. Patrick's Day to go beyond the Irish stereotype of little-green-men that is usually prevalent around that holiday. Reviewer: Sheryl O'SullivanSchool Library Journal
Gr 4-8
Students have a variety of sources to peruse regarding countries, but these books stand out because of their accessible facts and excellent, plentiful color images. Short chapters cover geography, nature, history, culture, and government and economy. Text boxes extend into a variety of issues including popular culture, customs, and celebrations. Full-page, landscape-oriented maps afford wide insight into aspects of the lands such as physical features, vegetation and ecosystems, and population. The books discuss recent developments as well as historical milestones. They will satisfy general interests and needs for history, geography, world languages, or cross-curricular projects.-Beth McGuire, Fannett-Metal School District, Willow Hill, PA