Indonesia ANNOTATION
Introduces the geography, history, government, commerce, people, and culture of Indonesia.
FROM THE CRITICS
Children's Literature
This nonfiction book in the "Cultures of the World" series presents a nice story of the physical, social and historical characteristics of Indonesia. Color photographs bring every page to life and capture the various cultures of these islands. Children will especially enjoy the pictures of arts, sports and wildlife, which include shots of leather shadow puppets, the harrowing sport of "stone jumping" and the famous Komodo dragon. Throughout the book, also, there are textboxes that add interesting information to the subject matter and include nice line drawings of native musical instruments, weapons, foods and other fun things. Kids will be amused to learn that children in Indonesia are never patted on the head, pointing is only done with the thumb, and people do not prop their feet up when they sit. The basic text of the book is a bit flat—not at all hip, by today's standards—and there is an assumption that kids will know terms such as "archipelago," "tsunami" and "zoogeographer." Though there is a glossary at the end, these and other difficult terms are not defined in it. Indonesian words, though, are used liberally throughout, and definitions and pronunciations are provided. Maps and charts at the end are well done, and a list of web sites will be very helpful to students doing research. 2002 (orig. 1990), Benchmark/Marshall Cavendish, $35.65. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Jane Harrington AGES: 8 9 10 11 12
School Library Journal
Gr 4-8-Myriad facts and quality illustrations bring these countries to life. Chapters discuss geography, history, government, economy, and more. In addition to background material, much information on contemporary life is provided. Throughout both texts and in sidebars, the authors offer lots of interesting detail such as discussions in Indonesia of the 1883 volcanic eruption of Krakatoa or its unique Wallace Line that separates vastly different zones of flora and fauna. In Myanmar, folk beliefs such as the caution that one should not have "a haircut on Monday, Friday, or on one's birthday" will pique interest. In both volumes, the inclusion of the phonetic pronunciations of many of the foreign words is particularly useful. Recipes that use easily acquired ingredients are also included. Appealing, full-color photos, reproductions, and drawings (at least one to a page); and political, economic, and cultural maps accompany the texts. Informative time lines that note Indonesian and Myanmar events in relation to world events through 2001 add a completeness to these books. Worthy additions to any library.-Alida F. Given, Fairhope Intermediate School, AL Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
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