Reading Level: Grade 4 Interest Level: Grades 3 – 8
The island nation of New Zealand offers fascinating culture and remarkable beauty! In this engaging text, fluent readers will explore all that this country has to offer. Each chapter details a different aspect of life in New Zealand through engaging text and vibrant photos. Special features such as a recipe and an activity provide a hands-on experience to further engage readers!
These titles enlighten readers about the respective country featured. Each section is two pages long, first describing the country from the perspective of a tourist, then presenting the history, climate, wildlife, sports, and traditions through colorful photographs and corresponding short paragraphs. Infographics and maps are used for sidebar facts, such as famous people who hail from the title country. The series allows for a broad overview of each country. Recipes are shared in each title, such as Nepali Dal (Nepal), along with an activity to connect students further to the text, such as creating a flower garland (Ukraine). The material is not overwhelming, since the sections are short. The final pages include a basic pictured time line of the country, quick two-page profile, glossary, further reading suggestions, and an index. VERDICT A good introductory series for older elementary readers interested in exploring the world or working on a school project.
