900s: A Trip in Time: Series Nonfiction on History

Children’s history books of a generation ago are like analog TV. The picture is adequate, but sometimes it is grainy, and the entire setup is rather dull and uninspired. Today’s titles, on the other hand, resemble crystal clear, inviting HDTV with a variety of interesting, child-friendly channels. With scant exception, the following history series represent all that is vivid, exciting, and factual in history publishing today.

BRUCE, Julia. Conquest!: Can You Build a Roman City? map. ISBN 978-0-7660-3478-5. LC 2008019762.
––––. Hunt!: Can You Survive the Stone Age? map. ISBN 978-0-7660-3476-1. LC 2008019761.
––––. Sail!: Can You Command a Sea Voyage? map. ISBN 978-0-7660-3477-8. LC 2008019764.
––––. Siege!: Can You Capture a Castle? ISBN 978-0-7660-3475-4. LC 2008020603. 
ea vol: illus. by Peter Dennis. 32p. (Step Into History Series). chart. illus. chron. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Enslow. May 2009. Tr $22.60.
Gr 3-5–This series invites children to don the persona of a general in the Roman army, a Stone Age chieftain, a 16th-century sea captain, or a medieval troop commander. Readers are instructed in culture and requisite job skills. The vibrant color illustrations are exquisitely detailed but never gruesome. Close-ups, panoramas, cross-sections, and aerials advance the texts. These titles are similar in approach to the “If You Lived…” (Scholastic) and “You Wouldn’t Want to Be…” (Watts) series, but there is little topical overlap. Though sources are not listed, the texts are reliable and will be useful for report writers.

JOHNSON, Sheri. Kids in the Medieval World. ISBN 978-1-4296-2268-4. LC 2008032335.
WHITING, Jim. Medieval Arms and Armor. photos. ISBN 978-1-4296-2270-7. LC 2008032332.
––––. Medieval Castles. photos. ISBN 978-1-4296-2267-7. LC 2008027078.
––––. Medieval Knights. photos. ISBN 978-1-4296-2269-1. LC 2008032331. 
ea vol: 24p. (First Facts: The Middle Ages Series). illus. map. reprods. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Capstone. 2009. PLB $21.26.
Gr 1-2–With three to six sentences per page, large, clear fonts, and succinct descriptions, these books are ideal introductions. Each one includes a simple craft and an “Amazing but True!” section that provides extra child appeal, e.g., “Sometimes doctors would taste a patient’s pee to find out what was wrong!” There are no source notes, but professional consultants lend credibility. Excellent reproductions of period paintings complement the texts.

ALI, Daud. Ancient India. ISBN 978-1-4358-5169-6. LC 2008036313.
MACDONALD, Fiona. The Aztec and Mayan Worlds. charts. ISBN 978-1-4358-5170-2. LC 2008036733.
OAKES, Lorna. Mesopotamia. charts. ISBN 978-1-4358-5172-6. LC 2008036869.
STEELE, Philip. Ancient Egypt. charts. ISBN 978-1-4358-5173-3. LC 2008035912.
––––. The Chinese Empire. charts. ISBN 978-1-4358-5174-0. LC 2008036254.
––––. The Roman Empire. ISBN 978-1-4358-5176-4. LC 2008036271.
STOTTER, Michael. The World of North American Indians. ISBN 978-1-4358-5171-9. LC 2008036306.
TAMES, Richard. Ancient Greece. ISBN 978-1-4358-5175-7. LC 2008036725. 
ea vol: 64p. (Passport to the Past Series). illus. maps. photos. chron. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Rosen Central. 2009. PLB $29.25.
Gr 5-8–Readers are immersed in ancient cultures through kaleidoscopic viewings of relevant peoples, buildings, religions, clothes, languages, and means of sustenance. Spreads cover a subtopic each and generally contain a couple of paragraphs in addition to numerous bright, captioned photographs and reproductions, and, on the bottom, time lines and crafts. The images are set against just the right amount of white space, helping to make this series attractive and youth friendly. Sources are not cited, but each volume is written by an expert in the field. There is enough substance here for reports.

AZARIAN, Melissa Eisen. The Amistad Mutiny: From the Court Case to the Movie. July ISBN 978-0-7660-3054-1. LC 2008044581.
COLEMAN, Wim & Pat Perrin. Racism on Trial: From the Medgar Evers Murder Case to “Ghosts of Mississippi.” ISBN 978-0-7660-3059-6. LC 2008021483.
HINDS, Maurene J. Witchcraft on Trial: From the Salem Witch Hunts to “The Crucible.” Apr. ISBN 978-0-7660-3055-8. LC 2008044550.
KOWALSKI, Kathiann M. Evolution on Trial: From the Scopes “Monkey” Case to Inherit the Wind. ISBN 978-0-7660-3056-5. LC 2008011459.
NOBLE, William. Presidential Power on Trial: From Watergate to All the President’s Men. appendix. ISBN 978-0-7660-3058-9. LC 2008030969.
WILLET, Edward. The Bounty Mutiny: From the Court Case to the Movie. Sept. ISBN 978-0-7660-3128-9. LC 2008044580.
WROBLE, Lisa A. The Right to Counsel: From Gideon v. Wainwright to "Gideon’s Trumpet." ISBN 978-0-7660-3057-2. LC 2008017419. 
ea vol: 112p. (Famous Court Cases that Became Movies Series). photos. reprods. further reading. glossary. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. Enslow. 2009. PLB $31.93.
Gr 6-9–Books about notable court cases are nothing new, but the inclusion of movies inspired by them is an alluring twist. These authors explain complex issues in an easy-to-follow manner. They provide background to each trial and explain how it unfolded and why it remains significant. For example, Racism states that Medgar Evers’s murder “[confronted] the public with the necessity for improvements in racial relationships.” The movie aspect might be gimmicky, but it works. A popular cultural phenomenon is woven seamlessly into the texts to attract readers. Clear photographs in full color and black and white appear in 35mm film-like frames, adding visual appeal. Sources are well-documented, making this series a promising staple for reports.

D’ELIA, Una. Painting in the Renaissance. ISBN 978-0-7787-4592-1; ISBN 978-0-7787-4612-6. LC 2008052600.
ELLIOTT, Lynne. Exploration in the Renaissance. maps. ISBN 978-0-7787-4593-8; ISBN 978-0-7787-4613-3. LC 2008052601.
––––. The Renaissance in Europe. ISBN 978-0-7787-4591-4; ISBN 978-0-7787-4611-9. LC 2008052410.
MULLINS, Lisa. Science in the Renaissance. ISBN 978-0-7787-4594-5; ISBN 978-0-7787-4614-0. LC 2008052602. 
ea vol: 32p. (Renaissance World Series). photos. reprods. chron. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Crabtree. 2009. PLB $19.95; pap. $8.95.
Gr 6-9–Ideal introductions to concepts, people, and events of the Renaissance. Europe, an overview of the era, boasts chapters such as “Health and Beauty,” “Religion,” and “Literature and Theater,” while the other volumes delve into the specifics suggested by the titles. The authors do an excellent job of explaining the significance of the period’s advancements, particularly in comparison to the relative dormancy that marked the centuries from ancient times to the Middle Ages. While covering complex issues, the books are succinct and thorough. Well-reproduced, colorful illustrations feature paintings, drawings, and maps that supplement the texts.

LEONI, Cristiana. In Caesar’s Rome with Cicero. illus. by Manuela Cappon. ISBN 978-0-7614-4328-5. LC 2008032316.
––––. In Pericles’s Athens with Socrates. illus. by Manuela Cappon. ISBN 978-0-7614-4326-1. LC 2008032315.
ROSSI, Renzo. In Nineteeth-Century London with Dickens. illus. by Alessandro Baldanzi. ISBN 978-0-7614-4333-9. LC 2008033046.
––––. In Renaissance Florence with Leonardo. illus. by Alessandro Baldanzi. ISBN 978-0-7614-4329-2. LC 2008033038.
––––. In the Sun King’s Paris with Molière. illus. by Alessandro Baldanzi. ISBN 978-0-7614-4332-2. LC 2008032321. 
ea vol: 48p. (Come See My City Series). illus. maps. reprods. chron. glossary. index. CIP. Marshall Cavendish Benchmark. 2009. PLB $19.95.
Gr 5-8–Translated from a series published in Italy in 2003, these books feature modern-day fictional young tourists who visit a city and travel back in time, where they are guided by a famous native son. The books open with a spread on the life of the subject and follow with a map and labeled illustration of the city and richly illustrated spreads that detail daily life, landmarks, and cultural institutions such as “The English Pub.” However, sources are undocumented; there are some typos and problems with the translation; and while the premise is appealing, it is awkward–the travelers are knowledgeable about the city and their famous tour guide to the point of being totally unbelievable as kids. When Dickens appears to young Alice and Freddy, the boy scoffs when the man introduces himself: “The writer? […] You’re kidding! Charles Dickens has been dead for more than a 100 years–everybody know that!”

Librarians looking for supplemental books will do well to consider these series. Not all have source notes, but creditable authors and consultants add legitimacy. Things that are gross, slightly scary, fantastical, and books that feature kids as protagonists have endless child appeal. Consider especially the “Passport to the Past,” “Step into History,” “Famous Court Cases,” “Renaissance World,” and “First Facts: The Middle Ages” series. Merely glancing at their pages is practically impossible. A glance turns into studying a caption. That turns into reading a page, then the book. Poof! History is alive!

The Worst of Times: Series Nonfiction on Modern History (Fall 2008)

Early Days and Knightly Ways: Series Nonfiction on Ancient and Medieval History (Fall 2008)

Looking Back: Series Nonfiction on American History (Fall 2008)