Blastoff! discovery. Country profiles

"Engaging images accompany information about Afghanistan. The combination of high-interest subject matter and narrative text is intended for students in grades 3 through 8"--Provided by publisher.

"Engaging images accompany information about Ireland"--Provided by publisher.

"Engaging images accompany information about Sweden. The combination of high-interest subject matter and narrative text"--Provided by publisher.

"O Canada! The opening words of the Canadian national anthem are a fitting exclamation for appreciating the country sometimes called the True North. Canada's untouched wilderness, Arctic animals, and native peoples are all worthy of a shout-out. This read points out to capable young readers what makes Canada special"--Provided by the publisher.

"Brazil has a monopoly over about half of the South American landscape. The country covers more than 3 million square miles of the continent! In this snapshot of Brazil, young readers will especially enjoy touring the Amazon Rain Forest and the country's other unique biomes"--Provided by the publisher.

"Russia is a rare transcontinental country, with its small western part belonging to Europe and its large eastern part belonging to Asia. The dividing line is the Ural Mountains. Fluent readers will see both sides of Russia and discover the cultural elements that unite all of its people"--Provided by the publisher.

"In the United States, a bow is most often taken by a performer at the end of a concert or play. But in Japan, a bow is the traditional gesture to greet another person. This country close-up teaches upper-elementary students Japanese customs and much more about the Asian island nation"--Provided by the publisher.

"Mexico is a cactus capital. Giant cardon, the world's tallest cactuses, grow in the Sonoran Desert. They reach heights up to 63 feet! And Mexicans also eat the stems of prickly pear cactuses like vegetables! This country profile takes kids south of the border to explore Mexico"--Provided by the publisher.

"Two thousand years ago, Italy was known for its spectacles. Rome's famous Colosseum hosted epic sports contests and gladiator fights. In this book, Italy is on display to engage fluent young readers. Kids will be especially amazed by ancient Italian architecture"--Provided by the publisher.

"Did you know that at first Parisians disliked the addition of the Eiffel Tower to their city? They thought the landmark, which is now France's most famous, was ugly! This children's title narrates a sightseeing trip around France. Readers can judge the beauty of the country's landmarks and culture for themselves"--Provided by the publisher.