Costumes

Gr 5-8--Two volumes that look at the ways people dress around the world. Masks and costumes originating in Europe, North America, Central and South America, Asia, and the Pacific regions are shown and described to be as varied in use, custom, and material of construction as the areas of the world from which they come. Masks spotlights face coverings found at the Venice Street Carnival; Schemenlaufen Festival of Austria; those of Native Americans; devil masks of Bolivia, Mexico, and Sri Lanka; Japanese drama masks; Mali tribal headdresses; etc. Costumes is broader in scope, but also less successful. It presents Spanish flamenco dancers, Lapland herdsmen, a Scottsman in a kilt, beaded and woven attire of Native Americans, Inuit parkas, pollera skirts of Bolivia, Indian saris, Japanese kimonos, and Maori piupi, etc. However, the coverage is cursory and little or no attempt is made to differentiate between traditional, everyday, and ceremonial wear. Both books have a wealth of captioned, full-color photographs; while they are the titles' best feature, many are poorly placed and much is lost in the gutter. Scattered craft ideas are included, but they are only marginally related or extraneous (especially in Costume). The indexes are woefully incomplete and confusing.

Dot Minzer, North Barrington School, Barrington, IL

Copyright 1995 Cahners Business Information, Inc.