Somalia (Enchantment of the World. Second Series) (Library Binding)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

An overview of Africa's easternmost country.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Library Binding: 127 pages
• Publisher: Children's Press (CT) (October 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0516200194
• ISBN-13: 978-0516200194
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,250,030 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Not exactly a topic in demand, April 7, 2004

By	E. R. Bird "Ramseelbird" (Manhattan, NY) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Okay, there are just not a lot of books for children out there that discuss the land of Somalia and its inheritants. Have you ever tried to locate a list of books, fiction or non-fiction, that deals with Somalia but is written for young 'uns? Try it sometime. I guarantee you won't be able to find more than three. Four tops. And why is this? Somalians are some of the most interesting people living in the world today. They're fascinating people. Yet the spell checker on my laptop computer doesn't even RECOGNIZE the word Somalian. I've lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota where the Somalia immigrants are a wonderful addition to the previously white bread Minnesotan population. Wanting to find out if my local library had anything about Somalians for kids, I was able to locate only this book on the topic. And boy oh boy does it illustrate how dire the need is for this kind of literature.

First of all, this book is, without a doubt, solely intended to be used for 5th grade research projects. Author Mary Virginia Fox has written several books in this "Enchantment of the World" series, and I can only hope she's imbued a little more life and verve into the other books she's written. On opening the book, we are never given a map of just Somalia. Rather, we have to hunt and peck to locate it on the Rand McNally provided atlas that shows some of the nine or ten countries located in Western Africa. If you prefer to look at a map of just Somalia, there's a tiny colored one at the back of the book. The book then leaps immediately into Somalia facts, not even pausing to have some sort of an introduction or briefing on why Somalia is interesting. The facts the book presents must be accurate, but we are seriously hindered from using the book's sources because ZERO sources appear credited at any time. Where the heck is Fox's bibliography? The closest she comes to crediting anyone is a brief mention of Robert F. Gorman, the Professor of Political Science at Southwest Texas State University. Surely she opened an encyclopedia once in a while to get these numbers, but no such credit exists. Bad, Mary Virginia Fox! Bad!

On the other hand, Fox wins points for the beautiful color pictures sprinkled throughout the text. The reading can be interesting, though at times it drags under the weight of the fact upon fact. The history section regarding colonialism (a section that should, by its very subject matter at least, be interesting) is dull dull, deathly deadly dull. Also, Fox isn't a fan of explaining anything. For example, she might say, "In spite of their extensive coastline, Somalis traditionally dislike fish and disdain people who eat fish". Interesting. Why do Somalis dislike it? Well, we'll never know because Fox offers no backup information on the topic. Though great on the straightforward info, don't come running to this book if you want any interesting reasons behind why such n' such is true or false. Fox is at her best when discussing more recent events in Somalia, and what the UN should have done to cease the fighting. Then too, there's a helpful section of general information, a timeline, important people to know, and an index in the back. There are undoubtedly better books about Somalia out there, written with kids or young adults in mind. If you find any, grab ahold of them with both hands and don't let go. The alternative is books like this one. Very good on facts, to be sure. But skimpy in its presentation altogether.