The Invasion of Normandy: Epic Battle of World War II

Gr 2–4—Designed with the beginning chapter book crowd in mind, this series tackles complex subject matter in a way that is compelling and accessible. Each title starts with a "Battle Preview," which is an easy-to-follow time line. There is an amazing amount of information in each volume's four chapters, but the authors make it manageable with succinct writing, and opposing viewpoints are provided. For instance, in Little Bighorn, Duffield addresses the reasons why both the U.S. government and the Lakota Indians believed in the validity of their claims on the land. While the focus is on the trappings of battles (weapons, strategy, etc.), there are descriptions about how the battles affected civilians. The maps show only that which is absolutely necessary to understand the location of the battle. The illustrations are effective complements to the text.