What Is a Play?

Gr 4–6—Well-researched writing and dynamic art combine to make a skillfully created series about literary genres. Culturally sensitive, the books contain a much needed global perspective. What Is a Play?? begins with a definition of the theater that lets students know that Asian cultures emphasize movement as much as dialogue. The books contain specifics, so kids won't have to puzzle over vague concepts. Though uncluttered, the layout is sophisticated, and each photo imparts useful information. Those already familiar with these topics will not be bored as they learn about the complexity of each genre. Photographs depict subjects of different ethnicities, and the books feature well-chosen excerpts from an incredibly wide variety of sources: The Arabian Nights, Tales of the Genji, and a memoir by Native American physician and writer Charles A. Eastman, as well as classics, such as Black Beauty and Anne of Green Gables.