We Visit South Africa

June 1, 2013

Gr 4-7-These books have several strengths and weaknesses. Each title follows the same format, with an introduction, facts at a glance, and information about the country, including struggles and hardships. Interesting aspects are highlighted, such as the story of Dian Fossey and her gorillas in Rwanda, and the proliferation of marathon runners from Kenya. Material about evolution is covered extensively, particularly in Rwanda. While the titles contain adequate material for research, the long, verbose paragraphs and unattractive layouts will keep many children from discovering the interesting, up-to-date material within. While some of the photographs are colorful and representative of the beautiful countries, many of the photographs and maps are of poor quality. Each title has a recipe and a craft from the country it represents. The time lines are wordy and again visually unappealing, therefore rendering them almost useless. While current, these books should only be considered if a library is replacing very dated titles.-Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CA

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