Books in Country Profiles series

Did you know Costa Rica is home to seven active volcanoes, a cloud forest, and beautiful beaches? But the most special thing about this tropical nation might be the people! All across Costa Rica, people practice pura vida, or pure life, in which relaxation is key. A great introduction to Costa Rica, this title includes fascinating fun facts, a language feature, a timeline of important historical events, and so much more! Pick up this book and discover the wonder of Costa Rica! Adventure abroad! This series takes young explorers on a world tour. Readers will stop at famous landmarks, meet new people groups, and experience unique customs and holidays. To further celebrate cultural diversity, these books teach how to speak foreign words, cook staple foods, and play traditional games.

This Iran book runs sequential through CORE standard topics: Geography; Environment and Climate; History; Government; Economy; Education; Science and Tech; Infrastructure; People and Places; Culture; Public Health; and summarizes with a Day-in the-Life summary. Readers discover the uniqueness of the country and it's place and value within the world community. Timelines, Maps and Think About It make this a best book for research and engages readers with colorful spreads, smart writing and interesting sidebars. Note the additional and up-to-the minute resources available at 12StoryLibrary.com: Editor-selected news articles; videos; online resources; teacher resources; live Twitter and RSS feeds

Kenya, with its fertile soils, diverse climate, and enterprising people, should be a land of milk and honey. Tourists see safari parks and palm-fringed beaches, luxury hotels and skyscraper offices; but the reality for a growing number of Kenyans is a life of desperate poverty and increasing insecurity. This book explains the origins of the political, economic, and social tensions which are causing wide rifts to appear in the fabric of Kenyan society. It contrasts the conspicuous wealth of the ruling elite with the destitution of thousands who have been dispossessed by ethnic conflicts over land rights, or excluded from their traditional lands by wildlife reserves. It celebrates the achievements of communities whose hard work has transformed degraded land, and shows how some of the nation's poorest people are surviving almost entirely on their own resources, on the margins of the Promised Land which seems as far off now as it did during colonial times.