CM Magazine: The Lands, Peoples and Culture Series. Rev. 3rd. Ed.

________________ CM . . . . Volume XVI Number 21. . . .February 5, 2010.

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India: The Land. (The Lands, Peoples and Cultures Series). Rev. 3rd. Ed.

Bobbie Kalman.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2010.
32 pp., pbk. & hc., $9.95 (pbk.), $20.76 (hc.).
ISBN 978-0-7787-9655-8 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-9285-7 (RLB.).

Subject Heading:
India-Description and travel-Juvenile literature.

Grades 3-7 / Ages 8-12.

Review by Sherry Faller.

***/4

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India: The People. (The Lands, Peoples and Cultures Series). Rev. 3rd. Ed.

Bobbie Kalman.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2010.
32 pp., pbk. & hc., $9.95 (pbk.), $20.76 (hc.).
ISBN 978-0-7787-9656-5 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-9286-4 (RLB.).

Subject Heading:
India-Social conditions-1947- -Juvenile literature.

Grades 3-7 / Ages 8-12.

Review by Sherry Faller.

***/4

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India: The Culture. (The Lands, Peoples and Cultures Series). Rev. 3rd. Ed.

Bobbie Kalman.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2010.
32 pp., pbk. & hc., $9.95 (pbk.), $20.76 (hc.).
ISBN 978-0-7787-9657-2 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-9287-1 (RLB.).

Subject Headings:
India-Social life and customs-Juvenile literature.
India-Civilization-Juvenile literature.

Grades 3-7 / Ages 8-12.

Review by Sherry Faller.

***/4

excerpt:

The average Indian village has progressed admirably in the past few years. They now have all the modern conveniences from running water and indoor plumbing to washing machines, refrigerators, and air conditioners. Electricity is commonplace and supply is reliable. (From India: The People)

These new, revised third-editions are updated to better portray India as it is today. Each book includes a contents page, a glossary and an index. Important words are now bolded and found in the glossary. While some of the photos from the past editions are included, many more vibrant photos have been added. All three books have the same format in layout, and the text font is clearer than the one used in the previous editions.

     In India: The Land, the map has been updated with the name changes of some of the major cities. Bombay is now Mumbai, and Calcutta is Kolkata. Of interest is the editors’ decision to use Imperial measurements first with metric behind in parentheses, eg. 20,000 feet (6100 meters). This is a switch from the previous editions. The inclusion of ‘Bollywood’ in this book and not in India: The Culture is a mystery. A big improvement is the chapter on “India’s Challenges” which discusses overpopulation, pollution, sanitation and big dam projects, rather than calling India a less-developed country.

     India: The People is basically the same as the previous editions. The concept of the community well as the hub of the village is now historical rather than the norm. Improved housing, facilities, services, education, and equal opportunities are discussed. The section on women’s rights is a happy improvement.

     India: The Culture is basically the same as the previous edition with some updated photos and a more appealing layout. India’s many religions are explained in easy to understand language, and some of the more popular festivals are featured. Followers of The Amazing Race will recognize the Holi spring tradition of people spraying each other with colourful dyes.

     This series is an excellent resource for student research on India. While most of the content is the same as in the previous editions, the vast changes and technological advances in modern India these past two decades demand that these new editions be purchased. Kalman and her team of writers have done an excellent job in representing India by including the many faces of that country.

Recommended.

Sherry Faller is a teacher-librarian in Winnipeg, MB.

To comment on this title or this Review by Sherry Faller.., send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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ISSN 1201-9364 Hosted by the University of Manitoba.

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