Major, John S., Belarus, Betty J. & MA, Yo-Yo. Caravan to America: living arts of the Silk Road.

Cricket Books. 144p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. 0-812-62677-X. $15.95. JSA 

This book, part of cellist Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project (which he started "to share and explore the rich cultural traditions of the peoples of the Silk Road") takes a "personal look at the arts and cultures of the Silk Road lands as they are practiced in America." Included are profiles of eight artists and artisans now living in America who are originally from the Silk Road, an "ancient network of caravan trails" through which goods and ideas were traded, and which "for more than two thousand years connected Asia to the Mediterranean and beyond." Subjects profiled engage in various artistic occupations such as singing opera, writing calligraphy and practicing martial arts, One featured subject is ouds, a Greek instrument similar to a lute. People profiled in this work share a few common threads: they trace their heritage to lands ranging from Greece to Korea, retain a strong feeling for their homeland even as they are proud to be American, and are committed to their art and want to pass it on. Several profiles discuss tradition and how it fits into modern life, conjecture on whether the tradition will survive (by both authors and subjects profiled), and explore how the subjects' lives changed when they left their homelands and journeyed to America.

The work features plenty of illustrations: 60 color photos, 12 b/w photos, maps, and "authentic design motifs." The book's design is visually appealing due to its use of white space, sidebars, and utilization of different fonts and colors to break up the text. Intended for young people, it would supplement studies of other cultures, though it will prove more beneficial in the classroom or for research than for browsing or pleasure reading. A glossary is included. Recommended for use in those libraries where materials are needed in support of this aspect of the curriculum. Tricia Finch, Libn., Fruitville P.L., Sarasota, FL