Each of these excellent overviews includes a history of the
region, as well as information on the people, flora, fauna, agricultural
and other economic products, culture, and major cities. Readers are made
aware of the similarities due to geographic location, but the unique characteristics
of each island are the major emphasis here. The authors' readable styles
will capture children's interest as they discover three-foot-long iguanas
and cockroaches with antennae that protrude four inches. The books are illustrated
with full-color photographs and include quick-facts inserts, easy-to-prepare
recipes, helpful glossaries, and useful project and report ideas.
--School Library Journal, on Trinidad and Tobago, The Bahamas, and The Windward Islands.
Each volume covers its island's geography, history, culture,
major cities, and tourism. Barbados discusses the blend of English and African
cultures, beginning with the arrival of the British in 1625 and the subsequent
enslavement of Africans in 1640. Little information is provided on the native
Amerindian inhabitants, the Arawak. Dominican Republic looks at the regional
music, dance, and religion formed by the melding of Spanish and African traditions.
Both titles include simple recipes and two pages of useful ideas for related
projects and reports. Colorful borders and photographs enliven the straightforward
texts. Additional purchases for children not quite ready for the "Enchantment of the World" series (Children's).
Author Lisa Kozleski is faced with the challenge of defining and describing the Leeward Islands, a group denoted as such due to their position to the trade winds. Other than sharing a similar location, much of the factual information would indicate that there are as many contrasts as similarities. The flora and fauna is varied, the governments differ, and the topography offers a variety of terrains with a variety of economic strengths. Like the others in this series, Leeward Islands offers fact boxes and all the reference aids that would make this attractive for reports. Another good entry in this series.