The Yangtze (Great Rivers)

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

"Great Rivers" is a fascinating new series by Michael Pollard. It introduces kids to six of the world's best-known natural watercourses (Amazon, Ganges, Mississippi, Nile, Rhine and Yangtze). The format offers a brief history and a discussion of the geographical features, including the source of the river, its course and interesting facts about the nature of rivers. Pollard moves to contemporary issues discussing commerce, industry, tourism, pollution, and the impact the river has on the lives of the people who live near or work on it. He concludes with a discussion of the river's future, which, in some cases, is not all that rosy. With increased prosperity in China, the resources of the Yangtze are being reevaluated to see how they can better benefit those who live along its shores as well as the cities and towns such as Shanghai. Students will find lots of facts, maps and a glossary. Casual readers will enjoy the excellent photographs and an eminently readable text that is divided into smaller segments with bold subheadings. A useful and informative addition to home or school libraries. 1998 (orig.

School Library Journal

Gr 5-7Two of the world's great rivers are described from source to delta with explanations of how they have affected the lives of people living along their banks throughout history. Both titles directly address problems such as poverty and pollution. They also include sections on the effect of population growth and industrialization on wildlife and the efforts to save threatened species. Information is current with discussions of projects under development such as the Three Gorges Project in China (The Yangtze) to be completed in 2013. Both pros and cons of such undertakings are presented, explaining how thousands will be displaced to provide energy and prevent flooding for many others. The somewhat crowded format includes numerous full-color photographs and reproductions, maps, and fact boxes. Nonetheless, these titles will be serviceable for reports and will fill gaps in collections needing books not only about rivers but also about the respective countries through which they flow.Diane Nunn, Richard E. Byrd Elementary School, Glen Rock, NJ