Nancy Dickmann grew up reading encyclopedias for fun, and after many years working in children's publishing, she now has her dream job as a full-time author. She has had over 200 titles published so far, mainly on science topics, and finds that the best part of the job is researching and learning new things. One highlight was getting to interview a real astronaut to find out about using the toilet in space!

The latest entries in this reliable ­series provide useful overviews of individual countries. Topical chapters look at history, current geography, daily life, celebrations, and recreation. Concise text describes each country in clear, direct prose, providing broad surveys of the multiple content areas. Photographs and illustrations offer solid support to the text, mixing images of landscapes and landmarks with views of people from around the country. Currency is a strength: recent events such as Saudi Arabia's 2023 soccer tournament win (Saudi Arabia) are noted in text and photos. Useful features include a map, a historical timeline and a "fact file." Each book also includes a recipe and instructions for a game that is popular in each country. The ­series is less comprehensive than sets aimed at older readers, such as "Cultures of the World" (Cavendish Square) but provides accessible information for older ­elementary school students. VERDICT ­Useful for country updates and subject holes.--Steven Engelfried, formerly at Wilsonville Public Library, OR "School Library Journal"

Publisher: Capstone Press

Pub date: 2024-01-01

Length: 32 pages