Reviews

Gr 2-5‘A colorful, up-to-date atlas that includes a three-page fold-out map of the world. The section on the physical world is a compact introduction to how the Earth was formed, its natural resources, and various ecosystems, from oceans to deserts to tundra. The vocabulary may be somewhat difficult for students to understand in context; there is no glossary. The continental map section contains a double-page spread for each continent and shows all the countries located within them. The written text gives a very brief overview of each land mass, discussing major mountain ranges, rivers, and habitats. Small drawings on and around the continents show well-known animals, peaks, waterfalls, tourist attractions, and economic activities. However, a good portion of each spread is unnecessarily taken up by the country flags. A useful gazetteer that lists all the countries of the world, their flags, populations, areas, and major economic activities is appended. All in all, an additional resource.‘Stephani Hutchinson, Pioneer Elementary School, Sunnyside, WA