|
PUZZLING ON THE RIM: CROSS WORD PUZZLES ON THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND THE COUNTRIES THAT BORDER IT
Naomi Wakan
Reviewed by Howard Hurt
Volume 22 Number 4
British Columbia is confident of its status as a doorway to the exciting new economies and societies of the Pacific Rim. Teachers feel certain that children will learn better when facts are presented in a stimulating and varied context. Youngsters know that games, are more fun than enforced memorization. These three suppositions have been drawn upon as a premise for putting together forty-seven crosswords with the potential to add interest and depth to social studies classes from upper elementary through at least junior high. Indeed, many parents and other adults could tackle these without feeling insulted. The book is obviously aimed at geography classes, but community libraries should try to assess the appetite of their users for this sort of thoughtful amusement. There are a lot of crossword junkies who will not reject "educational" challenges. The author has certainly attempted to make this booklet serve many purposes. There is, for example, a fairly broad age target with puzzles designated as "easy," "medium" or "difficult." Subjects touch nearly all Pacific Rim countries and include geographical, social, historical and economic questions. Answers, of course, are found on the last few pages. Books, articles and kits are listed as helpful and recent resources. In fact, these aids could be considered as first choices by school and public libraries searching for acquisitions. In this age of fear and loathing concerning copyright bureaucracies and the legitimate problems created by photocopiers and computers. Pacific-Rim Publishers have also offered a reasonable attraction. Wholesale copying is not permitted but, if the book is purchased for a school, teachers from there can copy as much as they want for their classes. This is a useful, well-designed and inexpensive Canadian publication. It should be an obvious choice for schools from sea to sea. Howard Hurt is a librarian with the Education Library, University of British Columbia, in Vancouver, British Columbia
The materials in this archive are copyright © The Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission Copyright information for reviewers
|
