As we watch violent clashes in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, it’s easy to assume that the entire world is in conflict. Sadly, this state of affairs is nothing new. Much of recorded human history involves people battling for recognition, power, and territory, resulting in both human suffering and rapid technological innovation and change. From the unknown murderer of the “Ice Man” found in the Swiss Alps to ancient Egyptians building massive monuments, from the Peloponnesian War to the gruesome Middle Ages, and from Soviet mass murder to the world-wide inferno of the Second World War, many of these sets tell the stories of the human quest for power and the conflicts and advancements that accompanied them, and in doing so, expand readers’ knowledge and understanding of the world and its conflict-ridden history.

Preschool to Grade 4

Baxter, Roberta. The First Cars. ISBN 9781491405741.

Peterson, Megan Cooley. The First Airplanes. ISBN 9781491405734.

––––. The First Computers. ISBN 9781491405758.

––––. The First Space Missions. ISBN 9781491405765.

ea vol: 24p. (Famous Firsts). further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. Capstone. 2014. lib. ed. $24.65.

Gr 2-4 –Each title starts with a single-page introduction about the importance or popularity of each technology, followed by spreads that show eight examples of firsts (Airplanes discusses monoplanes, jet airplanes, and jumbo jets, among others). The text is on the spare side and essentially functions as captions for the photos. The continuing time line that runs along the bottom of the pages adds more information, but the unvarying format and average-quality photos will do little to hold students’ interest. Some of the content is too complex for the intended beginning-reader audience. For example, both Computers and Airplanes mention aspects of World War II without background or explanation. Emerging readers should be able to read these books but may struggle with putting what they read into a technological or historical context. Additional choices at best.

LeBoutillier, Linda. Food Long Ago and Today. ISBN 9781491402979.

Lee, Sally. School Long Ago and Today. ISBN 9781491402962.

O’Brien, Lindsy. Communication Long Ago and Today. ISBN 9781491402955.

Simons, Lisa M. Bolt. Transportation Long Ago and Today. ISBN 9781491402986.

ea vol: 24p. (Long Ago and Today). further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. Capstone. 2014. lib. ed. $24.65.

Gr 3-5 –Using simple text and large illustrations, these books trace the evolution of essentials of modern life. Each volume opens with a general introduction, followed by spreads that describe development or innovations in each topic from the ancient world to the present. Examples are drawn from both American history (especially School and Food) and world history. The titles are brief, and because they each contain only five or six topics, coverage is spotty and there are wide gaps between time periods and technological advances. Books close with a full page “Amazing but True” anecdote, instructions for a simple craft, and two Common Core questions. Words are defined on each page, and full-page photos and illustrations are unimaginative. These books will help students understand that all aspects of their lives have historical relevance. However, they are short on details, and the illustrations won’t attract readers, making them additional rather than first purchases.

Peterson, Megan Cooley. Great Leaders and Thinkers of Ancient Greece. ISBN 9781491402757.

Simons, Lisa M. Bolt. Daily Life in Ancient Greece. ISBN 9781491402726.

––––. The First Olympics of Ancient Greece. ISBN 9781491402733.

Smith-Llera, Danielle. Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greece. ISBN 9781491402740.

ea vol: 24p. (Ancient Greece). further reading. glossary. illus. index. websites. Capstone. 2014. lib. ed. $24.65.

Gr 3-5 –These attractive additions to Capstone’s ongoing “First Facts” books offer introductory facts about life in ancient Greece. The books are divided into brief “chapters” that provide a paragraph of text about a topic, such as education or food, on one side and a full-page illustration on the other. Sidebars either define words or add brief information about related subjects, and the titles conclude with two fairly difficult Common Core critical thinking questions. Illustrations include a map of Greece (repeated in all but Gods and Goddesses, which has a map of temple locations); contemporary photos of artifacts, sculptures, and locations; and reproductions of contemporary and classical artistic depictions of Greek life. These books are adequate introductions to this ancient culture and its many contributions to world civilization, but they offer little that is new in either perspective or material, making them supplementary purchases.

Grades 5 & Up

Allen, John. The Russian Federation: Then and Now. ISBN 9781601526922.

Stewart, Gail B. Ukraine: Then and Now. ISBN 9781601527080.

Uschan, Michael V. The Central Asian States: Then and Now. ISBN 9781601526946.

––––. The South Caucasus: Then and Now. ISBN 9781601526502.

Woog, Adam. The Baltic States: Then and Now. ISBN 9781601526441.

ea vol: 80p. (The Former Soviet Union: Then and Now). chron. ebook available. further reading. index. notes. photos. websites. ReferencePoint Pr. 2014. lib. ed. $28.95.

Gr 7 Up –As violence continues in Ukraine and tensions rise between the United States and Russia, these books are both timely (Ukraine includes the Russian annexation of Crimea) and informative. Each one opens with an introduction to its region, followed by chapters about its pre-Soviet, Soviet-controlled, and post-Soviet national, political, economic, and cultural history. Authors are unsparing in their descriptions of communist brutality, which resulted in millions of deaths, economic failure, and environmental degradation, and are also critical of the endemic corruption that has stifled post-Soviet economic growth. Books are illustrated with average-quality photos, and brief sidebars provide additional information about topics such as Chernobyl and the Iron Curtain. This well-written set reveals how communist domination caused almost incomprehensible suffering for millions of people and how Soviet misrule has diminished current and future prospects. Strong and timely additions.

Allman, Toney. Medieval Medicine and Disease. ISBN 9781601526564.

Currie, Stephen. Medieval Punishment and Torture. ISBN 9781601526588.

Kallen, Stuart A. Medieval Food and Customs. ISBN 9781601527189.

Nardo, Don. Medieval Knights and Chivalry. ISBN 9781601526366.

––––. Medieval Warfare. ISBN 9781601526823.

ea vol: 80p. (The Library of Medieval Times). chron. ebook available. further reading. index. notes. photos. websites. ReferencePoint Pr. 2014. lib. ed. $28.95.

Gr 7 Up –Drawing on documented primary sources and modern scholarship, these well-written books separate fact from myth and give readers a detail-rich glimpse into life during the often gruesome Middle Ages. Books are primarily focused on Western Europe, and authors describe both the rigid social and religious structures and the ignorance and brutality that were hallmarks of medieval life. They also explain how innovation and expanded trade with the Middle East brought gradual change, especially in weaponry, warfare, and medicine. Texts are supplemented with sidebars that provide longer primary source excerpts and additional information about related topics. Illustrations, which include a single map of medieval Europe and color reproductions of period art and contemporary photos of locations and weapons, add little. These books will help readers and report writers understand the reality of medieval life. Good choices for secondary libraries.

Amstutz, Lisa J. Titanic. ISBN 9781 624032387; ISBN 9781629683034.

Bailey, Diane. Emperor Qin’s Terra-Cotta Army. ISBN 9781624032325; ISBN 9781629682976.

Capek, Michael. Stonehenge. ISBN 9781624032370; ISBN 9781629683027.

Eboch, Chris. Chaco Canyon. ISBN 9781624032318; ISBN 9781629682969.

Gimpel, Diane Marczely. Pompeii. ISBN 9781624032363; ISBN 9781629683010.

Lanser, Amanda. Ötzi the Iceman. ISBN 9781624032356; ISBN 9781629683003.

Meinking, Mary. Machu Picchu. ISBN 9781624032349; ISBN 9781629682990.

Moore, Shannon Baker. King Tut’s Tomb. ISBN 9781624032332; ISBN 9781629682983.

ea vol: 112p. (Digging Up the Past). chron. further reading. glossary. index. notes. photos. websites. ABDO. 2014. lib. ed. $34.22. ebk. $34.22.

Gr 7 Up –As the series title promises, these books “dig up” the general and archaeological histories of some of the world’s most iconic locations. The authors trace the archaeological history of each site, from early digs for artifacts to current preservation efforts; explain how archaeologists have expanded our knowledge and understanding of the site or society; and discuss its historical significance. The text is supplemented with a location map and sidebar biographical sketches of archaeologists and information about related topics. Average-quality photos and illustrations are a mixture of contemporary location shots and historical archaeological digs, but more depictions of the archaeological process would have been useful. These books lack the visual appeal of World Book’s “Enigmas of History,” but there is minimal overlap in topics, and these books’ well-written and informative perspective about how archaeology contributes to historical knowledge makes them good choices for secondary libraries.

Benoit, Peter. Big Battles of World War II. ISBN 9780531204948; ISBN 9780531217290.

––––. D-Day. ISBN 9780531204986; ISBN 9780531217337.

––––. The U.S. Army in World War II. ISBN 9780531204962; ISBN 9780531217313.

––––. The U.S. Navy in World War II. ISBN 9780531204979; ISBN 9780531217320.

––––. The Weapons of World War II. ISBN 9780531204955; ISBN 9780531217306.

ea vol: 48p. (A True Book: World at War). further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. Children’s Pr. 2014. lib. ed. $29. pap. $6.95.

Gr 4-6 –The books in this set open with two true or false questions (a signature of this series) that are answered in the text. Divided into four to six chapters, the titles focus on one aspect of each subject. A “Big Truth” chapter and a “True Statistics” page add interesting facts about weapons, armies, or statistics. The content is standard for middle-level books on World War II, and large black-and-white period photos appear throughout. Unfortunately, this series is marred by some weaknesses. There are few maps and no documentation of numbers and statistics scattered throughout the texts, and there are several errors (for instance, Battles mistakenly states that the Battle of the Bulge resulted in more deaths than any other battle, and both Weapons and Navy erroneously explain the tailhook mechanism on aircraft carriers. This set doesn’t improve on extant World War II coverage, and most libraries will find other series to be better choices.

Bodden, Valerie. Aztec Empire. ISBN 9781608183906. LC 2013032507.

––––. China. ISBN 9781608183913. LC 2013032511.

––––. Egypt. ISBN 9781608183920. LC 2013032512.

––––. Greece. ISBN 9781608183937. LC 2013032513.

––––. Rome. ISBN 9781608183944. LC 2013032514.

ea vol: 48p. (Ancient Civilizations). bibliog. chron. further reading. glossary. index. maps. notes. photos. reprods. websites. Creative Education. 2014. lib. ed. $24.95.

Gr 5-8 –Full-page, color photographs of ancient sites and artifacts and reproductions of ancient and classical art are the strongest elements of this set about the organization and daily life of early civilizations. Each book’s four- to- six chapters are made up of facing-page spreads with a full page of background and detail-rich text on one side and illustrations on the other. Topics include the civilization’s origins, rulers, religious beliefs and ceremonies, class system, and military, artistic and cultural achievements. Brief “Did You Know?” insets offer interesting facts about the topics. Bodden objectively analyzes each civilization’s positive and negative characteristics, from enduring cultural contributions to human sacrifices and slavery. Although these civilizations have broad coverage in extant titles, this set’s comprehensive content and quality illustrations will help readers understand each culture and its influence on world history, making these books good report or replacement choices.

Brezina, Corona. Nazi Architects of the Holocaust. ISBN 9781477775974.

Byers, Ann. Kristallnacht and Living in Nazi Germany. ISBN 9781477775950.

Cohen, Robert Z. Jewish Resistance Against the Holocaust. ISBN 9781477776018.

Freedman, Jeri. The Warsaw Ghetto and Uprising. ISBN 9781477776056.

Greek, Joe. Righteous Gentiles: Non-Jews Who Fought Against Genocide. ISBN 9781477776117.

La Bella, Laura. The Nuremberg Trials. ISBN 9781477776070.

Machajewski, Sarah. Elie Wiesel: Speaking Out Against Genocide. ISBN 9781477776094.

Meyer, Susan. Nazi Concentration Camps: A Policy of Genocide. ISBN 9781477776032.

ea vol: 80p. (A Documentary History of the Holocaust). bibliog. chron. further reading. glossary. index. photos. Rosen Young Adult. 2014. lib. ed. $33.25.

Gr 7 Up –These well-written and thoughtful books open with introductions about how German anti-Semitism and Hitler’s rise to power led to the persecution of Jews and the Holocaust. They books offer plenty of background and detail in five- to- six chapters that follow topics and individual people or groups throughout the Nazi era and analyze their significance. Authors describe the horrors of the Holocaust and the courageous efforts of those who tried to stop or resist it but avoid sensational details. As the series title implies, the books draw upon and excerpt material from contemporary accounts, recent scholarly sources, and testimonies of survivors. Period images and modern location photos supplement the texts, but the books don’t include maps, a significant weakness. The Holocaust has wide extant coverage, and these books don’t have a lot of visual appeal, but they offer solid report information and are good supplemental or replacement choices.

Thomas, Scott, ed. The Legends of King Arthur. ISBN 9780716626640.

––––. The Mysteries of Easter Island. ISBN 9780716626657.

––––. The Mysteries of Stonehenge. ISBN 9780716626671.

––––. The Mysteries of the Maya. ISBN 9780716626633.

––––. The Mysteries of the Trojan War. ISBN 9780716626688.

––––. Searching for Atlantis. ISBN 9780716626626.

––––. The Secrets in Ancient Tombs. ISBN 9780716626619.

––––. The Secrets of the Pharaohs. ISBN 9780716626664.

ea vol: tr. from Spanish. 48p. (Enigmas of History). further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. World Book. 2014. lib. ed. $25.

Gr 7 Up –Originally published in Spanish by Editorial Sol 90, these exceptional translations describe how modern investigative methods and technologies are solving history’s most fascinating mysteries. Although the books are on the slim side, they deliver plenty of detail and background as they take readers to sites where historians are collaborating with experts in archaeology, biology, and other scientific fields to uncover and analyze new information. The illustrations are superb, with a mixture of large, color photos of locations and artifacts, maps, aerial images, and diagrams. This unique approach will help readers understand how science, such as DNA analysis of the ancestral origins of Easter Islanders and satellite imaging of Stonehenge, is separating historical reality from myth and legend, as well as improving our understanding of the ancient world. These books will fascinate readers who want more information about perennially popular topics. Recommended for most secondary collections.

Miles, Liz. Meet the Ancient Greeks. ISBN 9781482408829.

––––. Meet the Medievals. ISBN 9781 482408898.

––––. Meet the Pirates. ISBN 9781 482408935.

Woolf, Alex. Meet the Ancient Romans. ISBN 9781482408867.

––––. Meet the Tudors. ISBN 9781482408973.

––––. Meet the Vikings. ISBN 9781 482409031.

ea vol: 32p. (Encounters with the Past). further reading. glossary. index. photos. reprods. websites. Gareth Stevens. 2014. lib. ed. $26.60.

Gr 4-6 –Readers become time-traveling adventurers in this excellent series. The books are based on the premise that students have passed through a time portal, with six hours to complete a mission such as delivering a pirate map or helping a slave escape. Along the way, they encounter roughly nine people who answer three questions about their work and societal or economic position (for instance, in Greeks, readers come across a temple priestess who explains what she does, sheds light on the festival of Panathenaea, and informs readers that, yes, there are both male and female priests in the temple. The successful completion of the mission sends travelers back to the present, where they find concluding information that places their adventure into historical context. The books are appealingly designed, with a muted photo background with superimposed text boxes for questions and answers and outstanding illustrations that combine colorful living history, historic location, artifact photos, and period art. The stories are interesting enough to keep readers turning pages and will inspire them to learn more. Strong additions.

Most of the topics in this section have received wide extant coverage, but several sets are good additions for most collections. Three offer either new information or fresh perspectives on old conflicts and power structures. The most geopolitically important of these is Reference Point’s outstanding “The Former Soviet Union Then and Now,” which combines solid writing with a wealth of background and detail about the historic suffering and current prospects of the people and countries of the former Soviet Union. World Book’s “Enigmas of History” uses exceptional illustrations to supplement discussion of how collaboration between scientists and historians is separating historical reality from myths. Gareth Stevens’s “Encounters with the Past” uses time travel as an engaging “vehicle” to take middle school readers to some of history’s most important eras. Four other series, while not quite as strong, would enhance most collections. Creative Education’s “Ancient Civilizations” uses an attractive blend of illustrations and detail to describe the ancient world. ABDO’s “Digging Up the Past” is not as visually appealing as “Enigmas,” but the two sets do not have a great deal of content overlap, and “Digging” offers readers information about how archaeology has contributed to our understanding of the past. Both Reference Point’s “Library of Medieval Times” and Rosen Young Adult’s “Documentary History of the Holocaust” provide plenty of detail for secondary report writers.