Reviewed with Kremena Spengler's Iraq .Gr. 2-5. Books in the new Question and Answer: Countries subset of the Fact Finders series focus on what is happening now, but they also deal with history, geography, and traditional culture. A question heads each spacious, double-page spread (What type of government does Afghanistan have? What is school like in Iraq?); the text is simple; there are big color photos of people and places today; and lots of exclamatory FACTS! in colored screens. The design is very accessible, and grade-schoolers will appreciate the quick introduction to places that are part of the daily news (the politics in Iraq is very much from the official viewpoint of Americans as liberators). A map appears in the first chapter of each book, and a brief bibliography of children's books from 2003 and 2004, a glossary, and a Web site authenticated by Capstone staff close each volume.

Gr 2-3-Unless students have some ethnic connection to the country concerned, it is doubtful that they would select one of these books. Each title asks a series of 12 identical questions, and each chapter spread contains one question and its answer. Type of government, forms of transportation, and traditional art forms are not topics that second or third graders typically inquire about. Readers are expected to refer to a glossary for the meaning of bold-faced words. The texts are plagued with oversimplification and assumptions. Afghanistan mentions the mining of lapis lazuli, but does not explain why it is rare, its color, or why it is special. Iraq assumes that readers will understand that floods deposit rich soil in their wake. Another chapter discusses a "famous Iraqi writer," but does not give his name. In Mexico, Diego Rivera is said to have created several "large mural paintings," which is redundant. Each title concludes with five pages that include facts, money and flag, and a few native words with pronunciation. The posed half-page color photographs do not salvage these titles. Check the nearest children's encyclopedia for this type of information and save the budget.-Eldon Younce, Harper Elementary School, KS Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.