Welcome to SRI Lanka FROM THE CRITICS
Children's Literature - Uma Krishnaswami
This book is part of the publisher's "Welcome to my Country" series. Each book presents facts about the country in brief chapters, in combination with color photographs and informational backmatter. In the Sri Lanka volume, a "Welcome" chapter offers an introduction to the names by which this island nation has been known, including their historical and linguistic context—Ceylan (Dutch), Ceylon (British), Lanka (Sinhalese) and Ilankai (Tamil), culminating in the 1972 adoption of the Sinhalese name along with the addition of the auspicious prefix "Sri." The symbolism of the picturesque flag is clearly explained. Successive chapters cover the physical geography, history, government and economy, people and lifestyle, languages, the arts, leisure, and food. Photographs both illustrate text and offer their own contextual information, e.g., about elephant orphanages, basketball, and religious festivals. The diversity of the country is well demonstrated not only in the section on "People and Lifestyle," but also through a variety of images both urban and rural and showing people of many socioeconomic backgrounds. Backmatter includes a political map showing the provinces of the country and their capitals, with an additional key to major landforms, a "Quick Facts" page, a sample of Sri Lanka's paper currency, a glossary, reading list, video and Internet resources, and an index. 2003, Gareth Stevens, Ages 7 to 10.
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