People's Republic of China

Gr 4–8—In this complete reworking of the 2007 edition, readers are given a broad and solid introduction to China. The book covers geography, climate, history, language, different ethnic groups, religion, government structure, and the arts. Frequent text boxes and large, bright photographs add extra information and deeper context. There is a heavy focus on the Chinese economy and recent strides made in human rights. However, there is a tendency to downplay the issues that still exist. The book does a good job of contrasting the realities of urban and rural life and showing the different faces of such a large country. Full of up-to-date information, the clear and easy-to-understand text highlights how quickly this country and economy are changing while still drawing on a thousands-of-years-old heritage.—Jennifer Rothschild, Prince George's County Memorial Library System, Oxon Hill, MD