Reviews
A noteworthy review of Music Makers from Children's Bookwatch on January 1, 2003
Elementary-level schools featuring beginning band and music courses now have the perfect choice to accompany their music programs. Each individual instrument or class of instruments receives its own bright and informative coverage. Full-color photos accompany the easy introductions. View →
A noteworthy review of Our People from School Library Journal on January 1, 2003
Both Ross and Madison give basic information about their subjects, describing them as strong, brave, and good at their jobs-seamstress and hostess, respectively. As serviceable biographies, the titles have sufficient information for reports, and are lively enough for recreational… View →
A noteworthy review of Living Well from School Library Journal on January 1, 2003
Each of these books begins with a profile of an Olympic athlete; Amy Van Dyken has asthma, and Gary Hall Jr. has Type 1 diabetes. The texts then explain the respective diseases in simple language with short choppy sentences. Gray includes a description of the causes, signs and symptoms,… View →
A noteworthy review of Nonfiction Readers: Level 2 from Children's Literature on December 15, 2002
A leveled nonfiction reader, this title is elementary, straightforward, and informative for children who have never heard of the Jewish holiday. Simple sentences introduce the holiday, tell how long it lasts, describe how to light the menorah, and present special foods and games.… View →
A noteworthy review of Our People from School Library Journal on December 1, 2002
This concise biography of Eriksson and history of Viking exploration and discovery presents the most popular current version of events. The authors minimize the role of Vikings as berserkers, emphasizing instead their settlements, civic organization, and family life. Enough background is View →
A noteworthy review of Journey to Freedom: The African American Library from School Library Journal on December 1, 2002
Abolitionists presents the history of slavery in the U.S. and includes brief portraits of men and women who participated in the movement. While the names of many of the people discussed will be familiar to young readers (Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, etc.), others… View →
A noteworthy review of Nonfiction Readers: Level 3 from School Library Journal on December 1, 2002
Each title defines a character trait by presenting vignettes that demonstrate it. The first book presents suggestions for being and making a friend. In the second, the vignettes give examples of honesty at home, in school, and in the community. Respect shows model behavior toward… View →
A noteworthy review of Music Makers from School Library Journal on December 1, 2002
With a strong introduction, Grace firmly establishes the relationship between the historical rhythmic foundation of music and the percussion family of instruments. In large-print type, each two-page chapter gives a concise summary of an instrument’s physical form, production of… View →
A noteworthy review of Our Cultural Heritage from Children's Literature on November 1, 2002
Did you realize that kindergartens did not exist until immigrants passed on that German tradition to America? Are you aware that when you decorate a Christmas tree you are engaging in a holiday tradition brought to the United States by German immigrants? Did you ever wonder what ethnic… View →
A noteworthy review of Our Cultural Heritage from Children's Literature on November 1, 2002
The story of the exploitation of Native-Americans by the forces of the Federal government is a sad and familiar one. Over a period of centuries, first the armed forces of the colonial powers and then the U.S. Army systematically decimated the Native-American populations that once… View →
A noteworthy review of Our Cultural Heritage from Children's Literature on November 1, 2002
Over the years, Swedish immigrants have carved out a place in the American saga. Swedes who braved the arduous trip to America helped open up the West. Swedish farmers journeyed across the plains to till the soil of Midwestern and Western states. Other Swedes made lives for themselves… View →
A noteworthy review of Our Cultural Heritage from Children's Literature on November 1, 2002
In the 1840s Ireland’s people were beset with a grave calamity. A potato blight broke out that destroyed the staple crop of the land. As a result of this agricultural disaster and faulty famine relief efforts on the part of the authorities, millions of Irish people either starved… View →
A noteworthy review of Our Cultural Heritage from Children's Literature on November 1, 2002
People coming to America as immigrants have been confronted by both opportunities and prejudice. In the case of Japanese immigrants, the barriers constructed to delimit both their ability to physically enter the United States as well as the legal strictures imposed upon them were… View →
A noteworthy review of Our Cultural Heritage from Children's Literature on November 1, 2002
In the mid-19th century American military power was used to defeat the forces of the Mexican government and greatly expand the territorial confines of America. First in the Texan War and then in the Mexican War American forces defeated those of Mexico and set the stage for an imperialist View →
A noteworthy review of Our Cultural Heritage from Children's Literature on November 1, 2002
Chinese society spans back across many millenniums. Perhaps no other culture has a deeper or richer heritage than that which Chinese people have proudly described as ‘The Middle Kingdom.’ This term was used with great pride by Chinese officials to describe their nation as a… View →
A noteworthy review of Our Cultural Heritage from Children's Literature on November 1, 2002
Vietnamese people are among the most recent immigrants to come to the United States. The flow of immigrants from Southeast Asia was triggered by the American and South Vietnamese defeat in the long and bloody war that was waged in Vietnam. After the fall of Saigon and the victory of the… View →
A noteworthy review of Mighty Math from Midwest Book Review on November 1, 2002
This series provides simple, clear text that promises to interest beyond the intended age range. Sara Pistoia has put together eight books on different, basic math concepts which are so easy that even those in older grades who haven’t quite grasped some of the basics will find them View →
A noteworthy review of Our Cultural Heritage from Children's Literature on November 1, 2002
Russian immigration to the United States is both a historical and modern day phenomena. While it is true that waves of immigrants from Russia surged across the Atlantic in the late 19th century and following the Russian Revolution of 1917, the process of coming to America from… View →
A noteworthy review of Our Cultural Heritage from Children's Literature on November 1, 2002
During the nineteenth century over three million Italians chose to immigrate to the United States. Their reasons for leaving Italy varied, but for many, America represented a new opportunity for freedom and prosperity. Many Italian immigrants came to the United States with dreams of a… View →
A noteworthy review of Our Cultural Heritage from Children's Literature on November 1, 2002
The story of Polish immigrants, their reasons for coming to a new homeland, and the experiences they encountered once there is a fascinating one. Fleeing political oppression, warfare, and poverty, many Polish immigrants came to America with false hopes that life would be easier there… View →
A noteworthy review of Living Well from Children's Literature on November 1, 2002
Directed to children who may have a friend or classmate with diabetes, this book clearly explains what diabetes is and how it is treated. Photographs of famous people with type I diabetes, such as swimmer Gary Hall and actress Mary Tyler Moore are mixed with photographs of children… View →
A noteworthy review of Our People from Midwest Book Review on November 1, 2002
This series provides historical biographies introducing major American peoples and their achievements. Children will find these inviting, with each holding 32 pages of biographical coverage paired with color photos and American history. These are promising wide-ranging references for… View →
A noteworthy review of Living Well from Booklist on October 15, 2002
Written at a slightly lower level than most books on these subjects, these debut entries in the Living Well series will be helpful to children trying to cope with chronic illness. Both books begin with anecdotes about young people who suffer from the illnesses. Asthma explains the… View →
A noteworthy review of Our Cultural Heritage from Booklist on October 15, 2002
Part of the Spirit of America – Our Cultural Heritage series, these titles provide a simple, useful overview of each group’s immigrant history and lasting influence on American society. The series highlights diversity and also common themes, including leaving and finding… View →