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Soccer World: South Africa

Ethan Zohn and David Rosenburg have an amazing book series on their hands if they continue the journey to other countries in Soccer World.  Soccer is a world-wide sport that can open conversations to learn about a country’s culture.Rosenburg’s beautifully formatted, full color cartoon-like drawings work very well with Zohn’s 1st person narrative as he takes the reader on a visit to South Africa.  Both make this non-fiction text much more interesting than the standard non-fiction texts.   Beginning with the flight, readers’s arrive with Ethan in South Africa.  Chapter by chapter they see people, places, geography and animal life.  Step by step art and science projects draw more interest into the country.  Every chapter also has words2know which are then in bold when used in context.  80% country study to 20% soccer, this book will sell itself to soccer lovers who will find themselves reading for pleasure while learning about the country at the same time.  The only downfall is that chapters are only numbered in the table of contents.  In the text itself, numbers are not used – only the chapter title runs across the top of the right hand page in the header.  With a portion of every book sale going to Zohn’s Grass Roots Soccer Organization and to the Craig Willinger Foundation, which works like the Make-a Wish organization, this book will be an excellent addition to any school  or public library.