Reading Level: Grade 4 Interest Level: Grades 3 – 7
From the central mountains and valleys to the rain forests of La Mosquitia, Honduras is a land of natural beauty. Not every wonder in the country is nature-made, however. The Copán Ruins in western Honduras are relics of Mayan artistry and a reflection of the beauty to be found in the people, lands, and customs of Honduras.
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.
