VICTORIA GOES TO BRAZIL

Victoria’s Brazilian mum brings her from the United Kingdom to Brazil to meet family and friends. Victoria simply and enthusiastically narrates as she lands in São Paolo and continues her journey throughout Paraná State and other nearby towns. Occasional words and phrases sound adult, but these won’t stop young children from exploring the sharp, engaging photos, filled with people, local foods, animals and family parties. Victoria’s aunts, uncles, cousins and friends are from many walks of life and ethnic groups in Brazil; Cousin Mayumi is half-Brazilian and half-Japanese, and Victoria’s great-grandmother is a Tupi-Guarani Indian from southern Brazil. The little girl visits urban houses and a small farm, or cáchara, a fishing community and a school, where she shows off her English and participates in capoeira. Only in a small paragraph at the end do readers (probably only alert adults) find out that Victoria has Down Syndrome, so, while this photo essay is similar to others about life in different countries, it distinguishes itself by nicely demonstrating informal inclusion. (glossary, index, map, recipe, Internet resources) (Informational picture book. 5-8)