Reading Level: Grade 4 Interest Level: Grades 3 – 7
In Belgium, you will find the world’s diamond capital, world-famous chocolates and waffles, and countless castles. You will also notice a global presence, as the headquarters for several international organizations are in the capital city of Brussels. Get a taste of Belgium in this title for young readers.
This upbeat, easy-to-read set introduces each country with richly photographed spreads about standard geographical topics such as land, unique and exotic wildlife, populations, daily life in urban and rural areas, education, work, entertainment, food, and holidays. Closing spreads highlight something that is distinctive to the titular nation, such as the Panama Canal or eagle hunters in Mongolia. “Fast Fact” and “Did You Know?” boxes add interesting trivia. Text averages one to two paragraphs per spread, making the large photos of interesting places, human activities, and plants and animals the set’s strongest element. VERDICT Supplemental choices for reports or nonfiction reading.
