Reading Level: Grade 4 Interest Level: Grades 3 – 7
Iran is an ancient country that used to be called Persia. The Persians were one of the oldest civilizations on Earth, and Persian culture has a strong presence in Iranian culture today. In this book, explore Iran’s rain forests, national cuisine, and the traditions of a people that trace their roots back thousands of years.
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.
