Capture the spirit of Indonesia—a colorful country between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific—by making these easy country recipes and crafts. Find out about some of Indonesia’s unique animals, plants, and festivals as you cook and craft your way through the country. Learn the many ways that Indonesians prepare rice, and find out how to make their favorite “fast food.” Sculpt a venomous Komodo dragon, a reptile that can run faster than many people can ride a bike. Make a rain stick and a paper flower to celebrate the rain forest. Put on a shadow puppet show for your family and friends with a puppet of the evil King Ramayana, then put it to music with the musical instruments you make from ordinary household supplies. Indonesian artisans weave fabric with designs so intricate it takes them months, sometimes years, to finish. Now you can try your hand at weaving, too. You can also dye a T-shirt using the ancient art of batik. With a few art supplies, a large bag of rice, and a dash of curiosity, you can host your own Indonesian selamatan (party)!

Germany is a beautiful country with a long and significant history. It also has its own distinct culture that has influenced Europe and the rest of the world. Learn more about the “land of poets and thinkers” by building a letter press or a model car propelled by jet force. Create lanterns for a procession, prepare typical regional dishes, and bake sweets for festivities. Find out how Germans celebrate the holidays and recreate some of their age–old traditions with step–by–step crafts and cooking projects.

Also called Bharat and Hindustan, India has long delighted the senses with its lively whirl of colors, sounds, fragrances, and textures. Now you can host your own Indian party with ten scrumptious recipes from all across India. Follow the easy instructions to make papadum and dhokla, a spongy appetizer topped with chilies; chicken karhai; and spicy rice and peas. From snacks and appetizers to main courses, desserts, and drinks, your guests will relish each flavorful bite. Spruce up your party with ten colorful crafts that are sure to bring India’s traditions and fashions to your classroom or home. Decorate your floor with Rangoli, paint some henna tattoos, and make flower garlands for everyone to wear. Along the way, you’ll learn interesting facts about India’s holidays, people, and everyday life—like what promises Indian brothers and sisters make to each other. Step into another land and learn about India’s treasures!

Experience the fascination and folklore of Japan by using common household items to re-create traditional crafts like kokeshi dolls and origami cranes. Learn legends that promise good fortune as you sculpt a Beckoning Cat or paint a blind Daruma. Celebrate holidays as the Japanese do by cooking mochi and moon-viewing noodles, or by painting a seasonal sumi-e poem. Japan is a nation that honors tradition, yet it is among the world’s most technologically advanced countries. The Japanese enjoy the longest life spans of any people on earth, a fact believed to be greatly due to their diet. See how the people of this crowded land came to depend on the sea surrounding them for sustenance, then try your hand at making teriyaki salmon and ozoni, a soup that features shrimp. Step into the pages of this book to share Japanese culture, with its love of nature and expression of art in daily life.

Welcome to South Africa, the Rainbow Nation, a diverse country with a troubled history but a bright future. You can explore this country’s story through a series of colorful crafts and tasty recipes. For a glimpse into the region’s prehistory, paint your own version of ancient rock art and taste a local grain called millet. Next, visit the colonialist era, when slaves brought by European explorers created the unique Cape Malay cuisine and began a colorful New Year’s Day tradition called the Cape Minstrel Festival. Journey through the painful period of apartheid—strict racial segregation—and taste a street food that was created because black people were not allowed to sit in restaurants alongside whites. Finally, step into the present day and toot a vuvuzela—a long, noisy horn used for cheering—as you learn about South Africa’s transition to equality and democracy.

Welcome to the amazing world of China! China’s ancient traditions have created a tremendous variety of tasty foods and beautiful artwork. You can learn to make some of China’s most popular foods, such as sesame noodles, egg rolls, and moon cakes, by trying the easy-to-follow recipes in this book. Then you can discover some of China’s favorite artistic traditions by making dragon boats, tangram puzzles, and more! Along the way, you’ll learn interesting facts about China’s holidays and people, and fascinating trivia about everyday life. Step into another land and learn about China’s treasures!

Celebrate with Israel! Discover the stories of an ancient nation and a beloved land by making traditional foods and crafts. You’ll eat delicious potato latkes and sweet hamantaschen cookies. Make a mask for Purim and paper flowers for Shavuot. Each holiday, full of fragrances and flavors, also carries a message of hope and light. Follow the joyous celebrations of the year as you get to know the people from the land of Israel.