Grade 7-10 -These volumes follow the series format of using 12 chapters to present a nation's geography, history, culture, and lifestyles. While geography is the first topic, the maps are located at the end of the books. This is especially problematic in Gottfried's titles as the author begins by focusing on cities and regions. Whereas King's writing and choice of subjects seem appropriate for junior high students, Gottfried uses vocabulary demanding higher reading skills and he makes no effort to explain terms such as impressionism and expressionism. Moreover, in a few cases he seems to belabor inappropriate topics such as detailed comments on alcohol in Slovenia. While the information is generally adequate, these books are not without errors. In Slovakia, the author correctly describes the Velvet Revolution in the history chapter but then confuses the Prague Spring with the Velvet Revolution in a section about film director Juraj Jakubisko.
