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 countriesХ landscapes/character, and high-quality color photos and illustrations. The countryХs flag appears in full color on each volumeХs _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.