(2) 4-6 Straightforward text and comics-style sequential art combine in a (fictionalized) account of the Black student–led protest in 1976 Soweto, South Africa, in opposition to a law requiring half the school lessons be taught in Afrikaans. Separate chapters follow three individuals, including twelve-year-old Hector, whose lifeless body appears in a black-and-white photograph at book's end. An afterword describes how that photograph "became a powerful symbol." Lovingly illustrated portraits further humanize the three main characters. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2019

(3) K-3 Fifteen wisdom sayings from around the African continent are paired with brilliant illustrations from global artists in this informative book. Each aphorism is labeled by country and includes an explanation of its meaning. The book's art is noteworthy for how the many illustrators (identified in the appendix) interpret the sayings in their own unique styles. A great way to explore wisdom traditions and figurative language.

Reviewer: Monique Harris

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Living in... series. Illustrated by Tom Woolley. A girl in modern Egypt walks us through a day in her life, sharing tidbits of Egyptian history, geography, and culture along the way. Friendly digital illustrations accompany an engaging beginning-reader text, which provides a level-appropriate amount of information on topics such as the five pillars of the Islamic faith, common meals, and how to read hieroglyphics. Additional facts are appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 J. J. Keki, a Jewish musician and farmer from a small village in Uganda with Jewish, Christian, and Muslim residents, was about to visit the World Trade Center on 9/11. The day's horrific events inspired Keki to return to Uganda to start a coffee cooperative that would include the whole community. An engaging photo-essay about an unusual agricultural experiment. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 One World, Many Countries series. These serviceable overviews for report writers are liberally illustrated with sharp photos. An introductory chapter highlights apartheid (South Africa), a spring festival (Egypt), or the Mombasa Carnival and safaris (Kenya). Four chapters then focus on land, government and cities, people and cultures, and daily life. A "Global Connections" page is usually devoted to a social issue. Fast facts are appended. Maps, reading list. Glos., ind. This review covers these One World, Many Countries titles: South Africa, Egypt, and Kenya.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 One World, Many Countries series. These serviceable overviews for report writers are liberally illustrated with sharp photos. An introductory chapter highlights apartheid (South Africa), a spring festival (Egypt), or the Mombasa Carnival and safaris (Kenya). Four chapters then focus on land, government and cities, people and cultures, and daily life. A "Global Connections" page is usually devoted to a social issue. Fast facts are appended. Maps, reading list. Glos., ind. This review covers these One World, Many Countries titles: South Africa, Egypt, and Kenya.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 One World, Many Countries series. These serviceable overviews for report writers are liberally illustrated with sharp photos. An introductory chapter highlights apartheid (South Africa), a spring festival (Egypt), or the Mombasa Carnival and safaris (Kenya). Four chapters then focus on land, government and cities, people and cultures, and daily life. A "Global Connections" page is usually devoted to a social issue. Fast facts are appended. Maps, reading list. Glos., ind. This review covers these One World, Many Countries titles: South Africa, Egypt, and Kenya.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) 4-6 Searchlight Books: Do You Know the Continents? series. This boilerplate series provides basic information about the continent it covers in serviceable but generic prose. The author aims to encapsulate Africa's cultural and geographical diversity but succeeds in only the most cursory way. Brief chapters provide information on countries and cities, climate, landforms, natural resources, people, cultures, and economics. Colorful stock photos, maps, and sidebars appear throughout. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Kingfisher Readers series. This is a very basic look at the African savanna, illustrated with stock photos (some animals pictured aren't identified). The easy-to-read text presents random facts, and children will come away with a general if limited sense of the habitat. Each two-page spread focuses on a distinct topic; highlighted words in the text are defined in an appended glossary.

Reviewer: Grace Worcester Greene

(3) 4-6 River Adventures series. This volume in the boilerplate series examines the role of the Nile River in the cities, regions, and landmarks through which it flows. Well-selected photographs and maps illustrate the accessible text, which discusses the importance of the Nile for irrigation and crop growth as well as the diverse cultures that live along its banks. A quiz concludes the book. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 My Country series. These generic country tours feature captioned stock photos and simple prose. In each, a young narrator walks readers through brief sections on location, landscape, weather, family life, demographics, food, schools, customs, and landmarks. The basic information is well organized; the bright layouts will engage readers. "Fast Facts" are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these My Country titles: Egypt and South Africa.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 My Country series. These generic country tours feature captioned stock photos and simple prose. In each, a young narrator walks readers through brief sections on location, landscape, weather, family life, demographics, food, schools, customs, and landmarks. The basic information is well organized; the bright layouts will engage readers. "Fast Facts" are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these My Country titles: Egypt and South Africa.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) 4-6 Continents series. Standard encyclopedia information is dispersed among these forty-eight pages, illustrated with photographs that are sharp but not always well placed. The information is generally sound but superficial, inevitable for a short book on a broad topic: "People from many cultures live on this amazing continent." Common Core sidebars are more interesting but frequently at a higher skill level than the book itself. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(3) 4-6 Great Idea: Engineering series. Nardo briefly explains the initial purpose of the Giza pyramids--to deter grave-robbing of royal tombs--and predominantly focuses on the development of these remarkable structures without modern technology. Historical myths regarding the pyramids' construction are swiftly redressed, giving credit where credit is due: to free Egyptian workers. Diagrams, maps, and historical photos helpfully amplify the account. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Shara Hardeson

(3) K-3 When Egyptians began protesting and calling for Mubarak’s resignation in 2011, people feared for the safety of the beautiful Bibliotheca Alexandrina--the library built in 2002 near the ancient site of the Great Library of Alexandria. In this lovely tribute to the spirit of cooperation, Roth’s trademark collages exuberantly illustrate the human chain that surrounded the library to save it.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 Countries in Our World series. These volumes provide very general introductions to their title countries. Topics include geographical, economic, environmental, cultural, and political issues, positive and negative, faced by the citizens; useful spreads look ahead to 2020. Abundant photographs (of varying relevance) and sidebars highlight important facts and people. The volumes will be quickly dated. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Countries in Our World titles: Egypt in Our World and Kenya in Our World.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) 4-6 Countries in Our World series. These volumes provide very general introductions to their title countries. Topics include geographical, economic, environmental, cultural, and political issues, positive and negative, faced by the citizens; useful spreads look ahead to 2020. Abundant photographs (of varying relevance) and sidebars highlight important facts and people. The volumes will be quickly dated. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Countries in Our World titles: Egypt in Our World and Kenya in Our World.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Geography Library: Troubled Treasures--World Heritage Sites series. This book touches on the major pyramids of Egypt. Topics include the landmarks' physical structures, time periods and locales, and a "How They Did It" section. The last spread emphasizes protection and preservation. Photographs and a map, in addition to a useful pronunciation guide, help support the rather sparse information. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) YA Countries of the World series. This travel guide-like volume begins with a tourist's view of Egypt: "You have just stepped out of a time machine--or so it seems...You have just arrived in Cairo." Chapters cover all the expected details for report-writers: geography, flora and fauna, history, people, culture, politics, economics, and contemporary life. Vivid photographs and useful maps in an eye-pleasing design enliven the presentation. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) YA World History series. Dry but informative text combines with primary sources, archival photographs, and maps to provide a thorough discussion of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Life prior to the mass killings, growing tensions, and political maneuvers, along with key individuals, are presented. Sidebars provide additional information. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale