Alicia Z. Klepeis explores the 8,867 square miles Central America’s Belize. Klepeis uses snapshots of Belize’s location, landscape, wildlife, people, school and work, play, and food. The 32 pages just give a quick overview of what this country has to offer with two or three paragraphs of text per topic accompanied by half a page-spread of color photos.

There is a problem with text boxes set on top of photos that do not match the picture in the photo, though the photos follow along with the information in the main paragraph on the page. On page 14 the photo is of a thatched house while the box talks about Mennonite communities. On page 17 the photo is of a painted mural, while the box talks about colorful clothing. On page 19 the photo is of a guided tour by horseback, while the box talks about Belizeans working in other countries. And on page 25 the photo is of a dance group on Garifuna Settlement Day, but the box talks about Maya Deer Dance. The photos are labeled correctly. It is the inset text boxes that are problematic and could cause confusion on the part of the reader.

I continue to find the TIMELINE in this “Country Profiles” series confusing to the eye with its segmented lines stating facts above and below the actual timeline leading to the events’ locations on the timeline. It might be better to print the statements on a slant with a single line segment drawing the eye to the timeline location.

The BELIZE FACTS on pages 28-29 provide good visual graphics to show the flag, where people live, their work, important cities, main exports, and unit of money.

Factsurfer.com provides more information with safe internet.

Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong