(3) 4-6 Cultures of the World series. A profusion of sharp photographs combine with readable texts in these updated editions to provide a solid base of information on the geography, history, government, and lifestyles of five African countries. The books present each country with its own unique blend of economic, political, and social challenges, and include recipes and a timeline comparing world events with national events. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Cultures of the World titles: Libya, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(4) 4-6 Countries of the World series. Moving quickly through an overview section, these books then feature closer looks at selected topics, such as the American Colonization Society in Liberia, the women of Uganda and their struggle for equality, and the Berber and Tuareg peoples of Libya. While the captions sometimes interrupt the flow of the competent text, the photos are often striking. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Countries of the World titles: Uganda, Liberia, and Libya.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(2) 4-6 Translated by Catherine Temerson. In Libya in the late nineteenth century, eleven-year-old Malika longs to experience life beyond the rooftop confines of women. Her mother is cautious and obedient, but her father's other wife risks being disowned to shelter an injured young man preaching Muslim fundamentalism, who then teaches Malika to read. This French import tells an engaging story of changing visions of people and places.

Reviewer: Susan P. Bloom | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2005