“Put that phone down and look around you.” That common refrain reminds us how often we encourage students to be more aware of and engaged with the world around them, from the rhythms of their own daily life and of those in faraway places to the geographic wonders of the Earth. This group of nonfiction series, which includes a number of books about international topics, covers a variety of subjects: the very foundation of geography, visits to countries near and far, introductions to daily life all over the globe, and tours of some of the most scenic and interesting places in the United States. These series provide readers that “good look around” that will broaden their outlooks and help them learn about the basics of geographic terms and themes.

Elementary

Gr 3-5 –From the striking full-color satellite cover images to the engaging text, informative maps, and high-quality illustrations, every aspect of these titles conveys the basic themes of geography to introduce the continents. Each volume opens with an interesting fact and locator map, followed by chapters about the continent’s countries and cities, landforms, climate, and animals, natural resources, peoples and cultures, and economies. Coverage isn’t comprehensive; rather, the authors use iconic examples, such as Carnival for South America, emperor penguins for Antarctica, and the pyramids for Africa. Topics are illustrated with large color photos, and there are at least five informative maps per book, a major strength. Captions provide information or ask comprehension or critical thinking questions. VERDICT Solid choices for elementary collections.

Gr 4-6 –Each of these titles welcomes readers to each country with a description of celebrations or places, followed by chapters about land, government and cities, and people and cultures as well as a “Global Connections” section that describes the nation’s interactions with other countries. “Daily Life,” the final chapter, emphasizes family life, daily and holiday foods, and celebrations and religious observations, supplemented with a sidebar page on children’s lives. The books provide considerable detail, and the coverage is generally positive, focused on people and customs, but they also discuss problems and challenges, such as communism in Cuba and the legacy of apartheid in South Africa. Illustrations are outstanding and include three maps (locator, physical, and political); large, attractive photos; and sidebars that look like postcards and that offer information about unique places, animals, plants, and culture. Content is basic, but it is enlivened by clear writing and an appealing format that underscores the diversity of life in countries of our “one world.” VERDICT Pleasing additions to most collections in need of fresh, new titles.

K-Gr 2 –With controlled vocabularies and word counts of less than 300, this set takes early elementary students on a journey around the globe. Each spread has two to three simple sentences about an aspect of daily life, frequently focusing on themes with which readers will already be familiar, and examples are drawn from all parts of the world. Pages are illustrated with colorful photos that are well matched to the text, and locator maps on each spread are a major strength. Eats, School, Games, and Sports are the best of the group, since they cover subjects that are most interesting to children. The remaining topics are occasionally generic (housing and modes of transportation) and are less likely to capture and hold student attention. VERDICT Written for a slightly younger audience than the stronger “My World Your World” (Ruby Tuesday, 2015), this set is a good supplemental read-aloud or beginning reader selection.

Gr 3-5 –This set offers “just the facts” information about each nation’s history, geography, people, government, religions, languages, arts and entertainment, and food. Spreads contain four to five short paragraphs about each topic, resulting in some overgeneralization and superficial coverage. Most of the material is positive, but authors address pollution and environmental challenges in developing nations, as well as religious repression in Egypt. Covers feature an attractive image of a child, but most of the photos, generally one per spread, are often stock images of buildings, city and rural landscapes, foods, and leaders. All books have a country map that varies in type (physical or political) and quality. One-to-two-sentence-long “Fact!” text boxes and other sidebars add interesting trivia. VERDICT These materials provide standard introductory content but don’t improve on the many extant choices available and should be considered supplemental choices for reports.

Gr 2-5 –Essentially tourist guides for kids, these titles introduce some of America’s most-visited national parks. They cover each park’s natural and human history and provide information about its most prominent geographic features, flora and fauna, park transportation, and things to see and do on a park visit. The volumes open with a good locator map and close with a special interest map of the park or its surrounding area. An “All About” page provides statistical information, and brief “Pit Stop” sidebars add unusual or interesting facts. However, some unique park features, such as Yellowstone’s geysers and the Everglades’s complex water system, aren’t explained clearly, and several of the many colorful photographs are generic or not well matched with the text, factors that weaken the books’ effectiveness. VERDICT Supplementary choices for reports or pleasure reading.

Gr 3-6 –All humans commemorate life’s milestones, and this set takes emerging readers to celebrations around the world. Double-page chapters describe how a wide variety of religious groups, subcultures, and nations mark important events, but books are short on background. Some spreads provide limited information about a culture or nation, including locator maps, but others merely describe ceremonies or rites, such as Hindu and Sikh weddings, with little explanation of their religious or cultural significance. The books don’t explain the central tenets of world religions such as Islam or Hinduism, reducing the likelihood that readers will understand the importance of these ceremonies and customs. Sidebars, arts and craft projects, and large, average-quality photos supplement the text. VERDICT These volumes demonstrate the universality of celebrations, but there are many extant titles about specific countries, cultures, and religions that cover them in a fuller context, making the series a supplemental purchase.

Gr 4-6 –These titles take students on a tour of some of the world’s most unique buildings, with short chapters about each edifice’s history, reasons for construction, construction materials and techniques, architects, and current uses. Time lines illustrate construction schedules, and “Did You Know?” factoids provide interesting details about the buildings and their locations. Unfortunately, the set has several weaknesses. The chronology in One World Trade Center (which opened in 2014) ends in 2013 and refers to tenants in the future tense. Texts describe numerous architectural and building techniques, some quite complex, but there are no diagrams, cutaways, or exploded drawings to help readers understand them. Colorful photos are attractive but generic and not always well coordinated with the accompanying text. VERDICT These volumes are unlikely to draw a general audience and will not be especially useful to report writers.

Gr 1-3 –As the series title suggests, this set invites readers to compare their own lives to those of a diverse group of children from all around the globe. The books focus on topics that are of interest and will be familiar to kids. Bright, attractive photos (often four to six per spread) are the strongest element. The texts are comprised of simple paragraphs with basic content and well-written captions, supplemented by circular sidebar insets. A “Where in the World” map locates all mentioned cultures. The tone is cheerful, but sections about children who lack safe food, water, or the opportunities afforded to American children will encourage readers to empathize with those who are less fortunate. These volumes introduce other cultures even as they emphasize the universality of the needs for shelter, clothing, food, education, and celebrations and play. VERDICT Strong choices for early readers.

Gr 1-3 –Large, vibrant photos, many of children, are the strongest element of this attractive series. Clean layouts feature captioned double- or full-page photos and two to three sentences of simple text. Books open with a locator map and population statistics, and while topics vary somewhat by country, they generally include landforms, interesting animals, cities, crops, history, foods, and celebrations. The titles also feature a page with two simple words or phrases in the nation’s language and conclude with a brief “Fast Facts” summary page. Coverage is upbeat and emphasizes the country’s land, people, and animals rather than governments and institutions. VERDICT These offerings celebrate diversity and introduce nations that have strong ties with our own, making them good purchase choices.

Gr 1-3 –Large, appealing photos are the dominant feature of this series, which uses a controlled vocabulary of basic sight words. Books begin with a locator map and briefly describe landforms, animals and plants, history, and prominent cities and places. Layouts are attractive, with a combination of full-page shots and thematically grouped collections of smaller photos. Text is generally limited to a single-sentence caption about a place, animal, or plant. Some full-page background photos depict beautiful or remarkable sites but have no captions; some images identify the city where they were taken but not the country. Continents may not be the most obvious choice for early elementary students, but these volumes focus on noteworthy aspects and introduce basic geographical concepts while reinforcing readers’ command of sight words. VERDICT Good supplemental purchases for libraries that need interesting choices to encourage nonfiction reading required to satisfy the learning standards.

Middle to High School

Gr 7 Up –Previously published in two editions as “Modern Middle East Nations and Their Strategic Place in the World” (2003) and “Major Muslim Nations” (2010), this set has been minimally revised. Changes include some new information about the momentous events and changes that have roiled the region and its governments in the last decade, updated statistics, and new photos. Books are objective and well written and cover standard geographic topics such as history, land, peoples, religions, political organizations, economic structures, foods, and celebrations. Each has several maps, which is a plus, and the large photos are attractive. War, terrorism, and political turmoil have radically altered the customs, religions, and populations of many Middle Eastern countries. Because the revisions don’t reflect many of those changes, this set’s content is rapidly becoming dated, reducing its value as a report resource. VERDICT Of limited use.

Gr 6-8 –Through a six-chapter format, this set offers readers largely positive overviews, covering history, family and social relationships, food, school and work, art and recreation, and major cities and regions. The history chapters are abbreviated, relegating important topics, such as Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, to one or two paragraphs. Content is standard fare for country books aimed at middle school readers, but the vocabulary is stilted and too advanced for the intended audience; students may be unfamiliar with words such as verdant and purloined. The photos that appear on every page appear to be stock images, and they are not well coordinated with the texts. There are no maps. VERDICT Readers are likely to find these titles difficult to read, and they don’t improve on extant materials. At best, supplemental report choices.

Gr 5-9 –These series continuations offer comprehensive coverage of the nation’s most scenic wonders. In four chapters, each volume discusses the park’s history (geological and natural, as well as human), major features and ecosystems, the often difficult path to park status and protections for land and resources, and scenic areas and interesting wildlife and plants. A “Notes” section adds paragraph-length information about animals, suggested itineraries, side trips, and safety tips. Stunning, large color photos of locations and flora and fauna illustrate each park’s unique beauty, but the books each contain only one map, provided by the National Park Service, which doesn’t always include places mentioned in the texts. VERDICT These titles could be used as travel guides, and they also explain the challenges and importance of preserving some of the country’s most beautiful and geographically important places, making them good report choices.

Gr 3-6 –This set looks at contemporary circumstances of Native tribes throughout the United States and parts of Canada. Each volume begins with a brief introduction, accompanied by a map of North America, and a general pre- and post-European contact history of the tribes that live there. Each title profiles about eight tribes in two-to-four page chapters that discuss ancestral and current lands, interactions with white settlers, current population, livelihoods, and efforts to keep the culture, traditions, and language alive. Most pages feature an attractive period or contemporary photo that doesn’t always reflect the adjacent text, and there are no maps that illustrate contemporary tribal locations. These titles are on the dry side, and much of the information is superficial and can be found in reference sources or sections about contemporary tribal life in books about specific tribes. VERDICT Supplemental report purchases.

Gr 7 Up –Varying subjects and viewpoints make this series on modern-day Israel comprehensive and informative. Benjamin Netanyahu, a biography of the country’s current prime minister, along with Working Together, I Am Israel, and Cultures, Customs, and Celebration, examine history, leadership, and everyday life. Coverage is generally positive and includes Arab perspectives and criticism of Israeli policies and actions. Experience and Arab World, written by journalist and tour guide Zohar, are by far the strongest of the group. Arab World is a thoughtful and generally objective look at Israel’s past and contemporary relations with its nearest neighbors and the Palestinians that live in and outside its borders. Experience is a fascinating country tour written by a lively and well-informed guide. Bright color photos and sidebars are a plus. VERDICT The entire set is a sound choice for libraries that need in-depth report information about Israel. For libraries that don’t need all volumes, Zohar’s strong writing makes Experience and Arab World good standalone purchases.

Gr 5-8 –These revisions of the previously published “Developing World” (Franklin Watts) set look at each nation’s history, regions, populations, economy, and culture, with an emphasis on how development affects its largest city. The books are objective about the mixed effects of rapid economic growth, including increases in population and income, environmental degradation, and income inequality. The titles are well organized and attractive, with maps and large photos, but the language is stilted and dry, and reading levels are high for the intended audience. The volumes are dated, with no coverage of events or updated statistical information after about 2013. Russia, for instance, doesn’t mention Russian annexation of the Crimea or aggression in Ukraine, and Indonesia identifies Susilo Bambang, who left office in 2014, as its president. VERDICT The premise of examining how developing nations and their cities manage rapid growth in the global era is a good one, but out-of-date content and difficult vocabulary will limit the audience.

Readers will see lots of interesting things when they “look around” in these books. Lerner’s “Do You Know the Continents?” is the best of the group. Beginning readers will learn about the commonalities of life around the world in Ruby Tuesday’s “My World, Your World” and about the customs and cultures of countries whose people have immigrated to the United States in Bearport’s “Countries We Come From.” Mitchell Lane’s “Voices from Israel” provides enough information for the most comprehensive research. Four other sets are good enough to warrant supplemental purchase for specific needs. Weigl’s “Exploring Continents” uses a low word count and controlled vocabulary to teach beginning readers about the continents. The titles on food, education, games, and sports in Rourke’s “Little World, Everyone Everywhere” are good supplemental read-aloud or reading practice choices. Creative Education’s “Preserving America” and Gareth Stevens’ “Road Trip: National Parks” have plenty of information about national parks for secondary and elementary researchers, respectively.

Mary Mueller, Rolla Public Schools, MO