Blashfield, Jean F. Germany.

Blashfield, Jean F.  Germany.  Scholastic/Childrens Press  2013  144p  $28.05  ISBN 978-0-531-25601-5 ms/hs   series: Enchantment of the World #5  E-BNS 

This revised, second edition explores the history, economy, geography, religion, customs, and culture of Germany. Middle and high school students who have an interest in Germany will appreciate it.  Readers will be able to gather a wealth of information about this great European country in this wonderful resource. Historical facts from the past to the present are introduced to readers in an easy-to-read format.  The book is organized into ten chapters covering topics such as government, history, the natural world including animals and plants,  the economy, education, people, culture, language, religion, geography, music, arts, and sports.  Clear, concise content will help readers gain an insight and understanding of Germany and its people.  The history and government of Germany is explained in easy-to-understand language. 

You’ll find dozens of vivid color photographs, interesting sidebars, timelines, maps, fast facts about the country, lists of recommended books, music and web sites, and a comprehensive index.   High end, glossy pages will last through years of use.  This book will be extremely helpful for country reports and for casual reading. 

For schools who use Accelerated Reader, there is a test (AR Quiz # 156916). 
     

Each title in this series of 48 country books (as of the time of this review) has been completely rewritten and redesigned as the second edition and introduces a format that is both visually appealing and conducive to an effective, interactive learning experience.   

Germany                                               --Charleen Forba-Mayer

Somervill, Barbara A. Iceland.

Somervill, Barbara A.   Iceland.  Scholastic/Childrens Press  2013  144p  $40.00  ISBN 978-0-531-25602-2    ms/hs  series: Enchantment of the World #5   E-BN

With bright photographs and illustrations, the author presents Iceland in all of her pyroclastic glory. From chapters entitled “Force of Nature” and “Teeming with Life”, to those on “People and Language” and “Arts and Sports”, this book presents a very thorough overview of Iceland. The text presents the information in a very lucid and engaging manner, making this an ideal book for students conducting research.  There are a lot of sidebars, most of which include a photograph illustrating the topic, such as “The National Flower” on page 39, and “Prime Minister” on page 61. The book concludes with a timeline, “Fast Facts”, lists of further resources (mainly print with limited web), and an index.  To quote the back of one book in this series, “It’s geography for a new generation” as it presents countries with great visuals and engaging text.     

Iceland                                                           --Lynn Fisher

Sonneborn, Liz. France.

Sonneborn, Liz.  France.  Scholastic/Childrens Press  2013  144p  $40.00      ISBN 978-0-531-25600-8  ms/hs  series: Enchantment of the World #5   E-BNS

This beautiful book on France, which is a second edition, in the Enchantment of the World series, lives up to the fine reputation of the previous book.  Sharp, beautiful, full-color pictures enhance the text and will delight young readers. Additional text boxes and captions provide further information and clarify the text.  Each chapter succinctly describes an attribute of France, keeping information chunked and easy to follow for young readers.  The layout and design are also conducive to research.

The text is crisply written and flows well.  This informative book is a great resource tool, as it contains a table of contents and concludes with a timeline, fast facts, a find-out-more page, and a comprehensive index.  This second edition is sure to engage and inform young and reluctant readers and researchers.

This is one book in the Enchantment of the World, second series. There are currently more than forty books about different countries in this series.    

France                                                      --Virginia McGarvey

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

Somervill, Barbara A. Iran.

Somervill, Barbara A.   Iran. Scholastic/ Childrens Press  144p  $27.30  978-0-531-25311-3           ms/hs Series: Enchantment of the World(Scholastic/Childrens)#5  VG       

With its lovely writing style and wide variety of research topics, this book is a very good resource for an individual who wants to learn about a country experiencing both successes and struggles.  Barbara Somervill examines Iran and attempts to make factual information as interesting as possible through the use of vivid photographs, excellent charts and impeccable organization.   Iran is essentially a country in turmoil, due to its geography, history, environmental challenges, and politics.   The enigma of contemporary Iran is the nation’s celebrated beauty, which is contrasted against the struggles that seem to be insurmountable: threats to the water supply, earthquakes, human rights (especially women’s rights), the political system, and the issue of nuclear weapons.  There is a natural flow to the way the information is presented, moving from the role of the bazaar as the cultural center to the geography, history, resources, culture, religion, arts and family life.  Iran  boasts several world-renowned cultural figures, such as mathematician Omar Khayyam, poet Rumi, who wrote poetry about Sufi Islamic beliefs in the 13th century, and Shirin Ebadi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003.  Persian carpets are world famous as well!  

This book is objective, well-researched, and thorough, but a bit tedious in parts.  It ends with a timeline that compares Iran’s history to world history, a list of fast facts, a list of resources to consult, and a very detailed index. 

There is a typographical error on page 9 where it says “form” instead of “from” in the right-hand column.   The Enchantment of the World series includes books about Australia, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, and Israel.  This book includes up-to-date information about politics, as well as a look at past history.  Maps, charts, photographs, timelines, fast facts and Internet resources add to the appeal of this series. 

                                                      --Martha Squaresky

Blashfield, Jean F. Australia.

Blashfield, Jean F.  Australia.  Scholastic/ Childrens Press      144p  $39.00      978-0-531-25308-3   ms  Series: Enchantment of the World (Childrens)*#5   VG-BNS           

The geography, history, economy, and culture of Australia are introduced in this easy-to-read, colorful middle-school book.      This book on Australia covers a lot of ground, for 144 pages ... the history, geography, economy, cultures and diversity of Australia.  It includes several maps, which are very helpful and are included in the index for easy referencing.  The illustrations are colorful and plentiful, and they help to break up the text in an aesthetically pleasing fashion.

The book does not shy away from certain controversial subjects, like the Rupert Murdoch hacking scandal and the Stolen Generations, the government policies that separated Aborigine children of mixed race, a practice that continued for six decades.  This is to be commended.

There is a disproportionately large focus on present-day Australian movie stars, rock stars, and the like, but this is probably an asset, as it will draw in the teenage set for whom the book was written.

The index and references for further information are well done and helpful.  The Scholastic Facts for Now search engine proved to be a good one as well.   

This second series of Enchantment of the World includes titles for many countries and is a valuable resource for students doing social studies research.                                                     --Carol Kennedy