China

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.