The focus in these books is on geography and the economy, although history, people, and culture are also discussed. Written for report writers (and not likely to engage others), the authors offer substantial information, some analysis, and usually their own solutions to contemporary issues. Occasional color and black-and-white photos (some washed-out looking) help break up the text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Gr 7-10-Chapter titles indicate the usual coverage of geography, history, people and culture, economy, and government typical of country studies, but the emphasis here is on physical and economic geography much more than on sparking an interest in the people and their lifestyles. For example, in the chapter "How Ukrainians Make a Living," GDP, GNI, Purchasing Power Parity, the "shadow economy," and corruption are discussed, along with information on the basic sectors of the economy. "Living in Ukraine Today" has a few pages on topics such as education, food, and sports; it then focuses on environmental problems before ending with a survey of regions similar to what might be found in a guidebook. Cooper occasionally goes off on tangents, such as a discussion of Florence Nightingale's care of British soldiers during the Crimean War. In the chapter on history, Prince Vladimir's name is misspelled and the assertion that Latin became "the official language" in the area under Polish rule in the mid-14th century is problematic. There are also a few typographical errors and inconsistencies in the transliteration of the names of cities. The full-color photos are serviceable, but not great. Patricia Kummer's Ukraine (Children's, 2001) is a more coherent, much better written and engrossing book, and it has many more images, especially of the people and the culture.-Elizabeth Talbot, University of Illinois, Champaign Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.