Colombia (Colombia)

April 1, 2016

Gr 1-3-The latest titles in this continuing series visit countries of the Caribbean Basin. The strongest element of the set is the appealing format; large, colorful captioned photos arranged in clean layouts with two to three sentences of simple text. Books begin with a locator map and population statistics and continue on to cover landforms, animals, cities, agriculture, history, food, and celebrations. Extras include two simple words in the nation's language and a "Fun Facts" summary page. Coverage is positive, with an emphasis on the people, customs, and natural world rather than governments and institutions. In Cuba, the only mention of its communist government is a paragraph about the lifting of the travel ban due to the country's recent rapprochement with the United States. This set continues the series' focus on introducing countries with large immigrant populations in the United States. VERDICT Recommended additions.

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2019

K-Gr 3-This series goes beyond obvious topics to highlight unfamiliar facts about seven countries in South America and the Caribbean. Readers will learn about climate, natural resources, animals, etc., through maps, diagrams, and rich color photography. Digestible text blocks and simple sentence structures will encourage confidence and comprehension. Plenty of detail is provided without being overwhelming; elements are explored in a way to appeal to older readers, with a layout that is still kindergarten-friendly. Teachers may be interested in using this series to spotlight the cultures and customs of students whose families may be from the countries in this series. Similarly, educators will appreciate the resources for further reading, including a bibliography and a guide to online learning. Although available in English or Spanish, it is unavailable as a bilingual series. VERDICT This series provides an up-to-date exploration of some of the world's most influential cultures.

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.