Atlas of Africa

This title in the World Atlases series delivers exciting facts about Africa plus an introduction to maps and map reading. First, readers find a world map that locates Africa on the globe, followed by a series of nine maps, each showing a big, colorful view of the continent shaded and labeled to convey different types of information. The first identifies the 53 countries and includes pictures of their flags. Other maps show the distribution of population, landforms, languages, resources, climate, plants, animals, industry, and more. Opposite each large map, a brief paragraph of text and smaller, illustrated panels and photos offer further details about African landscape and culture, from views of a baobab tree in the grasslands to the packed cities of Nairobi and Cairo. Focusing primarily on accurate, up-to-date facts about Africa today and the people who live there, this attractive, convenient reference for young grade-schoolers concludes with Africa At-a-Glance statistics, a long, detailed glossary, and instructions about accessing prescreened Web resources.--Rochman, Hazel Copyright 2008 Booklist

Gr 2-4-Designed for students just beginning to use atlases, these books offer well-organized, easy-to-access information. All three open with a map of the Earth highlighting the specific continent in relation to the rest of the world. The spreads also include general information about maps including definitions of terms such as "equator," "Tropic of Cancer," and "Arctic Circle"; and descriptions of map features such as legends, compass roses, and scale. This information prepares readers as they explore the continents through sections about countries (though Greenland is not labeled on the map of North America), landforms, bodies of water, climate, plants, animals, people and customs, products, and transportation. Young readers are sure to like "Postcard Places," which features color photographs of the more amazing places on the relevant continent. Small photographs or colorful text boxes draw readers' attention to points of interest or fun facts. Maps and legends are simple, yet disseminate information clearly. These books will engage young researchers with a bit more ease than Wendy Vierow's "Atlas of the Seven Continents" series (Rosen).-Christine Lindsey, Lake Superior Primary School, Ashland, WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.