Earth's Continents

Gr 2–4—Concise definitions and explanations supported by simple yet effective images will help elementary schoolers understand the basics of geography and how maps represent the physical world. This series excels at providing content that is right on target for the intended audience. For example, Maps illustrates the concept of a bird's-eye perspective with an aerial color photo of a busy intersection and surrounding buildings, and Hemisphere not only defines the term but also includes maps that show all four hemispheres. In each title, visuals include quality surface and satellite photos and computer-generated images, all well captioned and labeled. However, the rather unattractive covers will likely put off potential readers. Librarians will have to do some handselling. Basic geographic features and the concept of maps are often difficult for younger students and this set makes them much clearer.