Spain

Children's Literature

Another wonderful nonfiction book in the "Discovering Cultures" series, this volume focuses on the Spanish culture and people. Gordon's books contain six segments, forming the bulk of the material: the location of Spain, "what makes Spain Spanish," living in Spain, attending school in Spain, recreational activities, and Spanish celebrations. The author presents information about Spain's geography, climate, government, history, and much more in an easy-to-read format which younger readers will enjoy. It includes Spanish words and their English translations, as well as traditional songs, art, and games. Students can learn to count to ten in Spanish with a chart of English numbers, Spanish numbers, and their phonetic pronunciations. The text is easy to read and well written; the author presents large amounts of information in clear and concise sections. Also, the beautiful full-color photographs complement the text. A short "Proud to Be Spanish" section introduces students to famous Spanish artists, writers, and athletes. A minimal reference section completes the book. Overall, this book is a fantastic buy for a school library. Students will find it a great, up-to-date resource for research, reports, or even just reading for fun. 2003, Benchmark Books, Ages 8 to 12.
—Christine Amyot