We Live in Hong Kong

School Library Journal

ea. vol: 60p. maps. photogs. glossa ry. index. (Living Here Series). Bookwright Pr, dist. by Watts. Mar. 1986. PLB $10.90. Gr 4-7Each of these books contains 26 interviews with people from a specif ic country. They speak mostly about their jobs and impart some general facts about their country. Some touch briefly on living conditions and family life. The books are limited in scope. History, politics and economics are seldom mentioned. The format of each book is the sameeach interview is exactly the same length, written in similar style and illustrated in the same manner (three color photos per interview)which soon becomes boring. We Live in Hong Kong gives a fairly accurate view of that country. We Live in Indonesia does not indicate that this country is one of the world's poorest nations. It does, however, provide a glimpse of the variety of cultures, religions and peo ples found there. We Live in the Philip pines is the best of the group because of the variety of people interviewed, in cluding a seamstress, the president of an electric company and a politically vocal nun. The vast reaches of Chili are explored in We Live in Chili. Unfortu nately only 5 women are interviewed, and even though 81% of Chili's popula tion is urban, no typically urban work ers are included. We Live in East Ger many shows a homogeneous and hard-working population. Education and sports are discussed in this book more than the others. These books are attrac tive with bright and glossy pages. They could serve as stepping stones to books of more depth.Judith L. Olson, Lans downe-Emrath Library, Lexington, Ky.