China (DK Eyewitness Books) by
Hugh Sebag-Montefiore
It's A Great Book!
In these 4 all-new titles-each with its own clip-art CD and wall chart-DK
shines its Eyewitness spotlight on vital topics from the past, present, and
future. While Mesopotamia explore the cradle of civilization and Great
Scientists reveals the minds that shaped the modern world, China
investigates the present-day culture of the most populous country on the
planet, and Oil takes a look at the controversial substance responsible for
the beginning-and, if were not careful, the end of life as we know it today.
Personal Review: China (DK Eyewitness Books) by Hugh
Sebag-Montefiore
The last few Eyewitness books purchased for my school library contained
a CD of clip art and a poster. I guess DK wanted to kick it up a notch by
adding those items to their already superlative publications!

The lay-out for "China" is perfect and the first I've seen in an Eyewitness
country book. After the introductory artifacts--flag, bamboo, calligraphy,
kung fu stance, moon cakes, and children, laughing Buddha, yin yang,
fashion (in China?)--then begins the first two pages of text--and this is what
is so clever.
"The day begins..." The last two pages? "The end of the day...." In between
are 54 pages of all imaginable topics identifying traditional China and
evolving, modern China. Tai chi in the park by the hundreds to stretch their
way into the day, while school children bustle off to their expensive
educations.
Think China and 90% of people come to mind--the ethnic identity of Han,
but there are 55 other ethnic groups. The Chinese comprise the oldest
continuous civilization on earth, but Mao Zedong changed imperial China
into Communist China. One sculpture at the end signifies his influence: a
massive gray arm and shoulder over-riding the environment, but broken
nevertheless.
Mandarin is the national language by which Chinese can communicate, as
they speak hundreds of dialects throughout the country. Citizenship,
fashion, hutongs and high-rises, home life--Many families live in one-room
apartments. Transportation, manufacturing, daily markets, all are part of
big city life.
Food, family life, religion and spirituality, festivals, education (took a 10-
year loss during Mao), media, science, technology, cinema, sports--the
book is fairly exhaustive in topics, but, of course, lacks in depth
Then the day ends, but not the book. Mapping China. I read recently that
China has one time zone. According to this map, China spans five, but
keeps its clocks at the same time as Beijing. A Timeline is next, then
Famous Chinese, a glossary, and an index.
If you have never paged through an Eyewitness book, may I invite you to
go to your local bookstore and buy one on a topic of choice or get one from
Amazon. Or borrow one from your local library. Eyewitness books have
been described as "a museum in a book."
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