Featuring maps, photographs, graphs, and fast facts, the Countries of the World series is perfect for primary readers looking to gather information about various countries for reports or general knowledge. The series presents information about habitats, animals, language, religion, sports, and other key details about the countries and their people using simple, easy to understand sentences.
From the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara Desert to the beautiful beaches, young readers will enjoy learning about the country of Morocco. The food and drinks, markets, and sports are all presented through short, easy to understand sentences. Students will come away with a clear overview of this country and its people. The main take away for many kids, though, will likely be a love of the adorable sand cat.
Featuring maps, photographs, graphs, and fast facts, the Countries of the World series is perfect for primary readers looking to gather information about other countries for reports or general knowledge. The series presents information about habitats, animals, language, religion, sports, and other key details about the countries and their people using simple, easy to understand sentences.
From the second tallest mountain in the world to the beaches of the southern coast, this book provides an overview of the diverse landscape of Pakistan in a way early readers will understand. There are photographs of both cities and villages as well kids and adults engaged in a variety of activities. Kids will also enjoy seeing animals, like the markhor, they may not have heard of before. This would be a great addition to any school or classroom library.
This is the incredible story of the life of Tom Crean, an explorer in the Antarctic during the ‘golden age’ of exploration in that area. He was part of three expeditions to the Antarctic, two with Robert Scott and one with Ernest Shackleton. His first trips were with Captain Scott – one on the Discovery to set up camps and later on the Terra Nova, Scott’s final ill-fated voyage. This expedition was a race to the South Pole which ended with Scott and two men dying and Tom saving the lives of two others by hiking thirty five miles back to base camp for help. Tom joined Ernest Shackleton on his exploration of Antarctica aboard the Endurance, which was crushed by ice and sank, leaving the crew stranded. They hunkered down on Elephant Island and Shackleton chose five men (including Tom) to accompany him in a small lifeboat to South Georgia Island where there was a whaling station. This island was over 800 miles away through strong seas and winds. But, they had not choice. They made it to the island and Shackleton, Tom and one other man hiked over the mountains to the whaling station. Because of their bravery, ALL the sailors from the Endurance were rescued. Tom then spent several years in the Navy and retired to Ireland. He was a quiet and humble man, who was a brave hero.
An afterward gives more details along with a timeline and additional resources. A map on the front endpapers and illustrations of Antarctic animals on the back endpapers add to the wealth of information.
This book is a true gem. While the focus of many books are on the leaders of these expeditions, Scott and Shackleton, there were truly brave men that accomplished great things alongside them. Tom’s story needs to be shared and Jennifer Thermes has created a beautiful piece that will enthrall the readers. Told in present tense and illustrated in colored pencil and watercolor, this book needs to be on library shelves everywhere. Interestingly, I shared this book with a Falkland Islander and folks there are very well aware of Tom Crean’s story and he felt that the book was a good representation of his life.
