Croatia FROM THE CRITICS
Children's Literature
Once under the communist rule of Yugoslavia, the independent republic of Croatia, located on the Adriatic Sea, now enjoys a culturally rich, democratic way of life. This comprehensive reference book takes an in-depth look at this small, eastern European country and provides detailed information about its geography, history, government, economy, ethnic groups, lifestyle, health, religions, languages, arts, leisure activities, tourism, festivals and regional foods. The author includes maps and dozens of colorful photographs, as well as up-to-date information and interesting facts. In addition, this book also contains short biographies of famous Croatians, a listing of national holidays, a recipe for brodet (fish stew), quick notes, a glossary, a bibliography and an index. This well-written, thoroughly researched resource provides an excellent overview of Croatia, and it will make a wonderful addition to any classroom or school library. Part of the "Cultures of the World" series. 2001, Marshall Cavendish, $35.64. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Debra Briatico
School Library Journal
Gr 6-10-The initial chapters go over basic geography, history, and government, while the bulk of the book examines Croatia's culture and contemporary life. The short chapters are divided into highlighted segments of a page or two. This format allows easy access to information. Covering so much, however, has led the author to lapse into tour-book types of descriptions or simple lists of things. How meaningful are references to architectural styles (Byzantine, Renaissance, and Baroque) or to "Musical texts in neumatic notation" without an explanation or illustration? Is it essential to list 15 islands off the Adriatic coast? Some oversimplification in historical and cultural information is perhaps unavoidable, but the statement that "Catholics worship images of the mother and child" in contrast to the Orthodox veneration of icons is simply incorrect. The chapter on the language of Croatia is informative, but it doesn't explain how the use of accents over the letters "s" and "c" changes the pronunciation; instead, the author dwells on the Glagolitic script used in the 11th century. Except for one, all entries in the one-page glossary are Croatian words. However, even without reading the text, a good impression of the country can be gained from the profusion of excellent, color photographs that appear on almost every page.-Elizabeth Talbot, University of Illinois, Champaign Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
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