Nardo, Don. India.

Nardo, Don.  India.  Scholastic/ Childrens Press      144p  $39.00      978-0-531-25310-6 ms/hs   Series: Enchantment of the World (Scholastic/Childrens)*#5     VG-BN      

This book provides a brief overview of India, covering geography, economy, culture, customs and history.  India is one of the largest and most densely populated countries in the world, a land of beauty with rural farmlands and incredibly massive cities.  Some of the cities are very modern but also have pockets of extreme poverty.  The country is a study in contrasts: the modern versus the old fashioned. It is very advanced technologically, yet its growing population and crippling poverty mean that the technology cannot reach everyone.

There are over 1.2 billion people living in India today, covering more than 1.2 million square miles.  Another study in contrasts is the geographical one: the valleys versus the high mountains.

The book provides beautiful colorful photos, with breathtaking views of India’s landscapes and interesting historical sites and towns.  There are sidebars that highlight interesting people, places, and events.  It also includes an easy Indian recipe to make at home or at school so that the readers have opportunity to experience foreign cuisine firsthand.  There is a section of Fun facts and statistics, a timeline, a bibliography, a web site, and an index.   

Enchantment of the World includes books on Australia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, and Israel.  The books are very colorful and cover the history, geography, economy and the modern world of each country.               --Magna Diaz