Poland

Poland—about the size of New Mexico—is located in central Europe. Its lack of large rivers or mountains to its east or west has left it vulnerable to invasion over the centuries, including one by Germany in 1939, which led to World War II, and then later during the Cold War the Soviet Union. Today, however, Poland is a unified, free country and a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It is set to join the European Union in 2004. Ninety-five percent of Poles are Roman Catholic, and they are proud of their cultural heritage rich in music and arts and crafts. The book is divided into six main chapters covering physical and cultural geography, daily life, school, sports and celebrations. A recipe for kielbasa is included, as well as directions to play a Polish game. The book also includes a helpful map, a "fast facts" section, an index and additional resources, as well as brief biographies on three well-known Poles: musician Fr￯﾿ﾽd￯﾿ﾽric Chopin, scientist Marie Curie, and Karol Wojtyla, who is Pope John Paul II. Poland is part of the "Discovering Cultures" series. Other books in the series include titles such as Spain and Ireland. 2004, Benchmark Books/Marshall Cavendish, Ages 9 to 12.


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