Readers are introduced to the different beliefs and holiday celebrations of people around the globe. For example, Birthday covers events such as quinceaneras and Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs. The sections are concise (usually one spread or a single page) and arranged by countries or belief traditions with text providing the history and origins, songs, and celebrations of the traditions introduced. Vivid, full-page illustrations and photographs appear throughout. Maps and occasional captions (e.g., ‘The lucky magpie takes Korean children’s lost teeth.‘) provide additional facts. Each title contains a ’Hands On’ activity and an ‘Up Close’ section that extends the topics with crafts, stories, songs, and recipes. Though nothing spectacular, this series integrates visual information and broad facts well, making it a general purchase for most collections.

In every culture and in every country around the world, the calendar year is marked by celebrated holidays and traditions. ‘The Child’s World’, a premier publisher of ‘books in series’ for young readers has produced ‘World Traditions’, an eight volume set that showcases these holidays and traditions and is specifically designed to appeal to children with a second grade reading level. Each title is fully illustrated, 32 pages, and includes a table of contents, detailed maps, a glossary, sources for further research, an index, activities to help celebrate at home or in school, and more! This outstanding series is comprised of Birthday Traditions around the World; Christmas Traditions around the World; Easter Traditions around the World; Halloween and Day of the Dead Traditions around the World; National Day Traditions around the World; New Year Traditions around the World; Tooth Traditions around the World; and Wishing Traditions around the World. Although each volume is available individually ($27.07 List / $18.95 Library), school and community libraries are strongly advised to obtain the entire set of 8 volumes ($151.60).