From the glossy covers to the crisp, vibrant interior photos, the titles in the revised Enchantment of the World series are as inviting as any travel guide. The clean design and clear chapter breaks make for easy use for middle-school students writing standard country reports, and the attractiveness of the package encourages wanderlust browsing. The Bahamas opens with a to-die-for shot: azure water, blue skies, and a shady palm tree. From there, readers learn about the country's exports (like salt and rum); its famous pink sand beaches (from the "broken shells of microscopic sea creatures"); and its rich tradition of storytelling. Each book balances past and present and ends with a time line that sets, for instance, Russian history against a time line of world history. "Fast Facts," a small further reading list, and index conclude. Accessible and informative d pretty to look at, too.