Spotlight on China, Vol. 5

Children's Literature - Miriam Gottschalk

The attractive cover photos of this slim, introductory book invite the reader's curiosity about China. But the visual engagement doesn't stop with the cover and young readers are sure to be intrigued by the excellent color photos that appear throughout the book. Johnson and Kalman also include simple maps, as well as interesting facts about the culture, people, and land of China. History gets a limited treatment here; the book includes one sepia-toned print from the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.), which gives a glimpse of ancient life in what appears to be an imperial household. Bolded text is explained in the glossary or within the text itself, making the descriptions easy to understand. A table of contents and a simple index provide easy navigation of the information, and can be used for practice in their usage. The large format allows the reader to see the photos in detail. Photos are up-to-date and even include a view of the 2008 Olympics Beijing National Stadium, known as the "Bird's Nest." This is a good beginning for studying about China in the earliest grades. Reviewer: Miriam Gottschalk