Travel Bookshelf: “Fandex Family Field Guides: Africa”

“Fandex Family Field Guides: Africa” by Alex Karis (Workman Publishing. ISBN 0761139788 — 50 die-cut cards, $9.95).

Fandex Field Guides comprise colorful, sturdy cardboard flash cards fastened together at the bottom right corner; unfurl them and they do make quite a good fan. When they’re done playing with the fan, however, bright children (and adults) will enjoy the excellent photography and clear, perceptive text by Alex Katis, a Discovery Channel producer. The stats, history and interesting details of all 54 African countries are described on 50 cards (there is some doubling up). While this is clearly designed for children, there is no attempt to “talk down”; the language is precise and the graphics are high-quality. — Jane Albusche, ITN