Ecuador

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6–Written in a straightforward style, these series entries, originally published in 2003, will update collections even though their traditional textbook format makes them look dated. The coverage is broad–history, people, culture, and the arts. Words in boldface are defined in the glossaries but are not necessarily included in the two-page indexes. In South America, color illustrations of each flag; area and population of each country; and maps and leading products of each nation are included. The suggestions in the “Project and Report Ideas” sections are creative, but they don’t always seem well considered–“listen to Andean flute music, an Argentine tango, a Brazilian samba, and a Colombian cumbia,” but no CD titles are offered, nor are the dance names listed in the index. Each book contains representative recipes, and while the dishes look good, the directions have not been modified or simplified for young audiences. Each title is illustrated with stock photographs in color and black and white, drawings, and maps.–Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA