Russia (Enchantment of the World. Second Series)

Gr 4-7-These titles provide the usual excellent coverage of the countries with refreshed and updated informative texts and almost entirely new photos and reproductions. The format is the same as in previous editions: 10 well-illustrated chapters, several maps, a fast-facts section, and a few references to other sources, including a referral to a Scholastic website (new). The chapters cover geography, natural environment, history, politics, people and culture. Sidebars tell about famous people, events, issues, etc. The books include many recent events and topics, e.g., Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee; Greece's ongoing financial problems; and Russia's famous NHL hockey player, Ovi. In a few instances, subjects talked about at length in the text are not accompanied by an illustration and/or a location on one of the maps-a minor irritation. The previous edition of Greece contained two excellent explanations of Greece's uneasy relationships with Turkey and the Macedonian Republic, which were omitted from this edition and have been central concerns of Greece for many years. Also, there is no mention in the discussion of holidays of the Saints' days in Greece, which are also the "name days" for most of the Greek people and are celebrated instead of birthdays. However, in general, these books have lively and interesting texts and excellent illustrations. It is well worth keeping up with the newest editions of this exemplary series, particularly the entry on the relatively newly formed Russian Federation.-Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From the glossy covers to the crisp, vibrant interior photos, the titles in the revised Enchantment of the World series are as inviting as any travel guide. The clean design and clear chapter breaks make for easy use for middle-school students writing standard country reports, and the attractiveness of the package encourages wanderlust browsing. Russia delves into its preeminence in the arts while also discussing branches of the government and the economy. Each book balances past and present and ends with a time line that sets, for instance, Russian history against a time line of world history. “Fast Facts,” a small further reading list, and index conclude. Accessible and informative—and pretty to look at, too. Grades 6-9. --Ann Kelley