From School Library Journal
Gr 5 Up-Thorough overviews of each of these Caribbean nations. Each volume covers geography, history, government, economy, population, lifestyle, religion, language, arts, leisure, festivals, and food. Political maps of the individual countries appear, but there are not adequate maps to indicate their location in the world. The material is well organized in easily readable sections, accurately illustrated with well-placed, full-color photographs on every page. Occasionally, the ``outsider's'' point of view becomes apparent. While discussing the Treaty of Paris, signed at the end of the Spanish-American War, in which ``Puerto Rico was handed over to the United States,'' Levy states: ``The locals were friendly-they knew America to be a rich, democratic nation and hoped for a better life under American rule.'' The discussions on race, ethnicity, and class are candid and accessible. Cuba does not dodge the obvious political questions and clearly informs of the progress made by the Revolution in the areas of education, health, and the arts. The format and style of these books will guide young researchers to compare and contrast these three countries.-Graciela Italiano, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Copyright 1995 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
