Egypt

Gr 7 Up—Previously published in two editions as "Modern Middle East Nations and Their Strategic Place in the World" (2003) and "Major Muslim Nations" (2010), this set has been minimally revised. Changes include some new information about the momentous events and changes that have roiled the region and its governments in the last decade, updated statistics, and new photos. Books are objective and well written and cover standard geographic topics such as history, land, peoples, religions, political organizations, economic structures, foods, and celebrations. Each has several maps, which is a plus, and the large photos are attractive. War, terrorism, and political turmoil have radically altered the customs, religions, and populations of many Middle Eastern countries. Because the revisions don't reflect many of those changes, this set's content is rapidly becoming dated, reducing its value as a report resource.