Greece

The Explore the Countries series offers primary-graders an introductory look at countries around the world. The books briefly hit the high points: the countries' geography, major cities, and history, and show readers how residents work and spend their leisure time. Each topic earns two or three pages, with typically a couple of paragraphs per page in a good-size typeface, bolstered by appealing color photographs. Greece has a rich history, but the modern-day life of the storied country is emphasized here. The books all have small time lines, introduce famous faces, and are an overall solid entry point to learning about disparate, interesting places.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2014 Booklist

Gr 2--4--Armchair travelers and striving readers will appreciate this colorful introduction to six countries. New vocabulary appears in gray boldface and is defined in the glossary, with no pronunciation guides. Students will learn geographic and statistical information about each country. Every place name and landmark is featured on a map, affording children excellent map-reading opportunities. Topics throughout the series are generally consistent: landscape, major cities, animals, food. Historical events are presented in some volumes. In addition to being readable and informative, the series is visually attractive, with appealing covers reflecting countries' landscapes/character, and high-quality color photos and illustrations. The country's flag appears in full color on each volume's title page. A glossary, an index, and a QR code for accessing additional information are included. VERDICT Recommended for schools and public libraries. A basic introduction to world nations for younger students that boasts an excellent use of maps.

The series boilerplate includes double-page spreads about the country "in History," "Across the Land," "Famous Faces," etc., each illustrated with good color photos. While the texts include the most significant basic facts about the countries, they are choppy and sometimes fatuous: "[Maria Callas] was known for her high voice." A link leads to the publisher's website. Timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Big Buddy Books: Explore the Countries titles: Greece and Norway.] (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The Explore the Countries series offers primary-graders an introductory look at countries around the world. The books briefly hit the high points: the countries' geography, major cities, and history, and show readers how residents work and spend their leisure time. Each topic earns two or three pages, with typically a couple of paragraphs per page in a good-size typeface, bolstered by appealing color photographs. Greece has a rich history, but the modern-day life of the storied country is emphasized here. The books all have small time lines, introduce "famous faces," and are an overall solid entry point to learning about disparate, interesting places. Copyright 2014 Booklist Reviews.

Gr 2–4—Armchair travelers and striving readers will appreciate this colorful introduction to six countries. New vocabulary appears in gray boldface and is defined in the glossary, with no pronunciation guides. Students will learn geographic and statistical information about each country. Every place name and landmark is featured on a map, affording children excellent map-reading opportunities. Topics throughout the series are generally consistent: landscape, major cities, animals, food. Historical events are presented in some volumes. In addition to being readable and informative, the series is visually attractive, with appealing covers reflecting countries' landscapes/character, and high-quality color photos and illustrations. The country's flag appears in full color on each volume's title page. A glossary, an index, and a QR code for accessing additional information are included. VERDICT Recommended for schools and public libraries. A basic introduction to world nations for younger students that boasts an excellent use of maps.