For armchair travelers, quick flits through the countries of the world (plus a few extras), with keepsake snippets of facts, foods, or festivals for each.After rightly acknowledging at the outset that the notion of country is a fuzzy one, Fullman proceeds on by continent to alight in 199 of them, adding Antarctica and a roundup of territories at the end. Steering clear of almanac-style barrages of descriptions and statistics, he supplies just a flag and location map for each half- to two-page entry, five "key" facts, and a handful of observations. Most of the last focus on distinctive celebrations, street food, wildlife, or natural wonders, but the author isn't shy about referring to recent civil wars and ongoing political tensions either. If a stop in "Israel and the Palestinian Territories" or his failure to mention that Vietnam was once two countries rub some older readers the wrong way, younger ones will more likely zero in on how people in Caracas roller-skate to church during the Christmas season; that Bolivia has 37 official languages (while the U.S. has none); or, in contrast to Belgium's "drool-worthy" cuisine, hákarl (fermented shark served in Iceland) "has a very powerful ammonia-like taste (apparently)." Overall the content is remarkably reliable. Underscoring frequent nods to the racial and ethnic diversity of populations in many locales, the small human figures that Blake scatters among her stylized vignettes are mostly dark-skinned.Long for a sustained read-through but rich in tantalizing tidbits for young globe-trotters. (index, glossary) (Nonfiction. 7-9)

Gr 36 This beautifully illustrated book is the perfect introduction for young geographers and budding map-lovers. Systematically covering 199 countries spanning the entire globe, it provides a brief but enticing introduction to the world. Organized by continent, the placement of entries after that is somewhat puzzling as it's not in any discernible order. However, individual countries can be located by utilizing the table of contents. The entries range in size from quarter page for countries smaller in population and size to full spreads for entities with larger populations. More space is dedicated to places that have had a larger role in current events and on the world stage. Each country is briefly introduced and accompanied by a text box with its flag and key facts (size, capital, population, currency, language). Appropriate for the intended audience, the text mostly focuses on the positive attributes of each country. While recent conflicts are briefly mentioned, little context is provided on the more complex nuances of current events in war-torn countries, such as Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and others. Additional fun facts about the countries explain oddities, trivia, or special features unique to each. These are illustrated by small but realistically detailed cartoon images. There is an error in the listing of St. Vincent and the Grenadinesthe capital is incorrectly listed as Castries, the capital of neighboring St. Lucia. This book is similar in format to Gabrielle Balkan's The Fifty States . VERDICT While not containing enough detail for any report, this gorgeous book is perfect for poring over while stretched out on a comfy bed or sprawled on the floor. Lisa Crandall, formerly at the Capital Area Dist. Lib., Holt, MI