South America

Children's Literature

Part of the "Continents" series, this book is a basic introduction to South America. The book opens with a few major facts about the continent, such as population, number of countries, largest cities and the longest river. The simple-to-read text consists of a brief description of the various regions of the entire landmass. Children will learn about the continent's natural resources, how and where people live, wildlife, and a brief history. Various maps and map keys are a major focus, to foster an understanding about South America. In addition to the maps, full-color pictures accompany the text to create a visual of the written descriptions. Some words are highlighted at the bottom of the pages with the meaning written out, however are not included in the glossary, which could be confusing for the reader. There is a table of contents, a glossary with the phonetic spelling of words, a list of additional books to read and Internet sites, and an index. A map-reading activity is included as an added benefit. The book is a great tool to use in the classroom to develop beginning map-reading skills in social studies curriculums as well as to introduce the concept of different types of maps and parts of the world to curious explorers. 2003, Bridgestone Books, Ages 5 to 8.
— Christy Oestreich