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Gr 3–5—The latest entries in this reliable series provide useful overviews of individual countries. Topical chapters look at history, current geography, daily life, celebrations, and recreation. Concise text describes each country in clear, direct prose, providing broad surveys of the multiple content areas. Photographs and illustrations offer solid support to the text, mixing images of landscapes and landmarks with views of people from around the country. Currency is a strength: recent events such as Saudi Arabia's 2023 soccer tournament win (Saudi Arabia) are noted in text and photos. Useful features include a map, a historical timeline and a "fact file." Each book also includes a recipe and instructions for a game that is popular in each country. The series is less comprehensive than sets aimed at older readers, such as "Cultures of the World" (Cavendish Square) but provides accessible information for older elementary school students. VERDICT Useful for country updates and subject holes.

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

The World Passport series (4 new titles) gives a fantastic overview of countries around the globe. Each title immediately sparks interest by placing readers in one of the country’s most scenic venues and presents a map of the country and a chart with quick facts, such as the country’s population, government, official language(s), and natural resources. Topical chapters cover country basics, including history, geography, climate, cultural landmarks, food, daily life, holidays and celebrations, and sports and recreation. Your Passport to Canada emphasizes the diversity of the country's inhabitants, from its Indigenous peoples to its immigrants arriving from all over the world. Complementing the accessible text in each volume are numerous color photos with related captions, fact boxes, a time line of the country’s history, a recipe for a common dish, and directions on how to play a popular outdoor game. A solid choice for students’ country studies.