From the Gulf of Sidra to the southern Tibesti Mountains, this book discusses Libya, a country as mysterious to most Americans as the desert, which encompasses more than 90% of its territory. The author has written a well-researched and quite comprehensive work whose length, 144 pages, makes it an excellent source for school book or research reports. Any book about Libya must surely include information about Muammar al-Qaddafi, its famously inscrutable leader, as this one does. This title discusses his rise to power in a bloodless coup in 1969 and also touches upon his involvement with international terrorism. However, the author tries perhaps too hard to be objective, omitting or minimizing some of Qaddafi's terrorist activities. In addition, although he was a laudable early supporter of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, Qaddafi is more problematic than the author suggests. But to the book's credit, there is plenty of material about this country's rich history and culture, information that is unusual for children's books about the Arab World. Part of the "Enchantment of the World" series. 1999, Children's Press/Grolier Publishing Co., Ages 10 up, $22.40. Reviewer: Bruce Adelson