FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Danielle Williams

Situated on the equator in central Africa, Uganda is a country of savannas, forests, deserts, mountains and home to several lakes, including Lake Victoria, one of the sources of the Nile River. A wide variety of animals can be found in Uganda, among them the mountain gorilla, which is near extinction but fiercely protected by the Ugandans. As with most African nations, Uganda has a turbulent past. Throughout the 1800s, missionaries from many countries made forays into Uganda. The differing politics of those countries created tense situations, often erupting into war. Eventually Great Britain made Uganda a protectorate, which allowed for a brief period of peace, during which Uganda established industries and trade with other countries. During the second half of the 20th century, Uganda became an independent nation. After several dictators ruled through terror, Yoweri Museveni became President and reorganized the government, allowing for a period of peace and development to occur. Fully illustrated with color and black and white photos and separated into brief chapters, Uganda is presented with interesting detail and straightforward text. Included at the end of the text are brief country facts, trivia, and several words presented in Swahili with a guide to pronunciation. Also included are a glossary, an index, and a site to visit for links to facts on Uganda. Part of the "Facts and Places" series. 2003, Child's World,

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