Turkey is long on enchantment. The colorful cover depicts a tea seller dressed in crimson and gold, and the charming pictures throughout portray children playing and young women dancing. It also has plenty of facts for school reports, with chapters that cover general social studies topics such as geography and flora and fauna. The titles of the chapters, such as “Where Continents Connect” and “Nature’s Superpower,” are designed to spark student interest. Turkey is a fascinating country and the book points out its importance in both the ancient and modern worlds through discussions of history and politics and government. Turkey’s particular issues, such as secularism, are treated fairly and explained well. Unfortunately, the book would have benefitted from better proofreading and copyediting. For example, this title confuses the contraction “it’s” with the possessive “its” and describe a situation as “back and for they go” instead of “back and forth they go.” Back matter includes a timeline associating Turkish history with world history, fast facts and figures, and book, music, and web resources for further research. Part of the “Enchantment of the World” series. Reviewer: Elisabeth Greenberg; Ages 8 to 12.
Turkey is presented as a fascinating country with a 3,000-year history. Beautiful color photographs of ancient sites and present day wonders, as well as many pictures of the people, the land, and the wildlife cause this book to read almost like a tour guide advertising the unique aspects of this extraordinary country. Ancient history, including the Legend of Troy and the many empires that have ruled in the area, is summarized. Modern day cities are described. Abundant shopping opportunities are available in the markets with Turkish rugs a favorite purchase for tourists. The daily life of Turkish people, their spiritual practices, and their culture provide a sense of the essence of the nation. Maps give a sense of place throughout the book. Other reference aids include a table of contents, a timeline, a list of fast facts, a bibliography, and an index. An excellent introduction for those who know little about this part of the world and part of the "Enchantment of the World" Second Series. 2003, Children's Press,
— Phyllis Kennemer
Gr 5-8-Good-quality graphics and lively texts make these updated series titles readable and visually enticing. Each volume covers the flora and fauna, environmental issues, history, government, economy, culture, religion, sports, education, and daily life in these countries. Both volumes have abundant full-color photos with clear captions; geopolitical, economic, and cultural maps; and sidebars highlighting people, places, and cultural information, including a recipe for a popular native dish. A time line divided into two columns delineates what was happening in the country on certain dates as well as what was happening in the rest of the world. "Fast Facts" sections include everything from literacy rates and local currency to famous landmarks and notable people.-Kristina Aaronson, Henniker Community School, NH Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
