Where Is the Congo?

Where is/are...?

by Megan Stine

Discover what lives and grows in the Congo Basin in Central Africa, one of the planet's most remarkable regions.

Running through six countries in the middle of Africa, the Congo Basin contains some of the largest tropical rainforests in the world. Dealing with present-day issues of climate change, it is home to bonobo apes, mountain gorillas, forest elephants, and more.

With details about the exploration (and exploitation) by the European colonialists and the aftermath of their arrival in the Congo, this book will give readers a better understanding of the second largest rainforest in the world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Geography, Childrens, Africa

112 pages, Hardcover

Published May 5, 2020

About the author

Megan Stine is the Editor-in-Chief of Real U Guides and the author of more than 100 books for young readers including Trauma-Rama, an etiquette book for teenagers published by Seventeen magazine, and several titles in a series based on the popular 1990’s television series Party of Five. A frequent writer of books in the enormously popular Mary-Kate and Ashley series, she is the best-selling author of Likes Me, Likes Me Not and Instant Boyfriend. She has worked with CBS and ABC in developing comedy and drama television pilots, and has written comedy material for a well-known radio personality in New York.

When she isn’t writing, she is a portrait and fine art photographer and a contributing photographer for the Real U series of guides.

Reviews

[Kavitha Sivakumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

These small nonfiction books are a very good way of knowing about a country. Congo rain forest is the second biggest rain forest in the world only next to Amazon rain forest. Like all the colonized people, Congo also suffers because of people's greediness for money and power, be it Congolese people or people of other countries Portugal, France, Belgium, England, and America.

Still, internal wars going on. Despite the riches found in Congo - rubber, palm oil, mineral wealth such as gold, diamond - the Congolese people still die from starvation as these wealth are grabbed by the industrialists from other countries.

[Kurt Garfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I teach about Central Africa in my class each year, and it has always been hard to find decent material about the area for young readers. This book felt like a godsend for me. It talks about the early history of the Congo, the slave trade, colonial history, King Leopold II, Patrice Lumumba, Mobutu, as well as the ecology of the region in a very short length. I look forward to using this as a teaching resource in the future.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trying to understand even the political boundaries of the countries called Congo is hard. This book does a great job of explaining the trials and travesties that have created the circumstances that face the Central African countries today. An excellent little, easy to read, well written book that chronicles myriad changes. A very good read.

[Suzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read, especially since I recently read The Poisonwood Bible, a fiction novel that incorporates historical information about the Congo. It is fascinating (and disheartening) to read about the social and political themes that just keep repeating throughout history and across all cultures.

[CL]

King Leopold II of Belgium claimed the land as his personal kingdom and exploited Africans to harvest ivory trunks and natural rubber. When the exploitation was exposed, Leopold sold the land to Belgium.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an eye-opening read for me as I did not know the history of the Congo. There were many illegal things that happened during the history of this nation. Many lives were lost due to the corruption of government in the history of this region.

[Karthika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction. I was captivated from the beginning

[Vani Ghanate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good description of the history, people and creation of a country called Democratic Republic of Congo

[Vani Ghanate · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book has done an amazing job in covering the history of Congo, it's beauty and struggles in such a short read. I feel empathy for Congo after this read.

[Laura Serrao · Rating 5 out of 5]

99% negative about the history of the Congo. One tiny section discussing animals which leads into their harsh reality of struggling for survival.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot from this book, and it was actually a little heartbreaking in parts.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m always surprised how much I learn from the books Who Was/What Was/Where Is book series! I found this one to be fascinating and well paced. My third grader found it interesting as well.

[F S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Book! Educational snd entertaining!

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is lots to learn about our world and it was good to learn about the Congo.

[Vani Ghanate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read!

[Emma McKenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was descent

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since so little is written about this area of the world, especially for children, I was excited to see this title. It is a basic brief description of historical events and peoples involved in this area of Africa, as well as a few of the animals that populate the forests and savannas; really a jumping off point for further study. Children will learn that slavery was just not an American phenomenon, but has been practiced throughout many ages and in many places, and that it has not been completely wiped out. They will hear stories of greed and power struggles, oppression and the effort to throw off those constraints. They will also read of the beauty and fascinating creatures of the Congo.

One glaring error, as can happen when trying to cover so much material in as little space as possible: the author began one paragraph with the question, "Why is there so much rain?" Instead of answering the question with understandable facts, such as that the area lies in the equatorial region where it receives direct sunlight, causing faster evaporation rates, which is the reason for humidity and rainfall, the author answers the question with a non-explanation answer: "Because the Congo contains the second-largest rain forest in the world." (pg 11) Last I knew, a rain forest was not the cause of rain. Yes, trees help sustain the water cycle and increase the amount of rain, but they are not the direct cause of rain, just one of many contributing factors.