Reading Level: Grade 4 Interest Level: Grades 3 – 7
Taiwan is a tropical island east of China that experiences frequent, powerful earthquakes. Tremors do not stand in the way of the many high-tech innovations the Taiwanese produce and share with the world. This title will teach young readers about Taiwan’s history and what life is like today.
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.
