Gr 6 Up-On the plus side, these books are informative and well organized. The writing is clear and the "Works Consulted" lists include a healthy helping of Web sites. Shinto offers information on the roots of the religion, its beliefs, ceremonies, and its role in the modern world. Confucianism considers the life and work of Confucius and devotes several chapters to the history of the religion; other chapters examine its role in 20th-century China and its relevance today. The books, while generously illustrated, contain a number of photos and reproductions that are either faded, dark, or do not offer enough contrast. The "World Religions" series (Facts On File) is more engaging with better layouts and higher print quality. However, both Shinto and Confucianism are accessible and can be used to supplement other resources such as Mircea Eliade's Encyclopedia of Religion (Macmillan, 1993) and The Encyclopedic Dictionary of Religion (Corpus, 1979; o.p.).-Herman Sutter, Saint Agnes Academy, Houston, TX Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
