Panama Book

Introduces the geography, animals, food, and culture of Panama.

Claudia Mills - Children's Literature

Bridgestone's "Countries of the World" series offers attractively presented, brief introductions to each featured country, appropriate for elementary-school readers. Here readers begin with "fast facts" about Panama, including a helpful comparison to show its size: "slightly smaller than the U.S. state of South Carolina." Child-focused topics such as "Life at Home," "Going to School," "Panamanian Food," "Animals," "Sports and Music," and "Holidays and Celebrations," as well as more general topics such as "The Land," "Cities," and "The People," each receive a one-page discussion, flanked by a striking full-color photo. One especially engaging photo shows Panamanian children outside their school at recess (by law, children in Panama are required to complete only the sixth grade); another shows a group of children ready to play baseball, now the most popular sport in Panama, brought there by American workers on the Panama Canal. The book closes with directions for playing a Panamanian counting game "Usted es el Mono," or "You are the monkey," a phrase children should enjoy learning to say. Also included is a guide to a few, very simple words in Spanish, a glossary of new terms in the text, a bibliography, useful addresses and Internet sites, and an index. 2003, Bridgestone Books,