Reviews (2)

Love the illustrations
I'm an adult, but I found this book very helpful in the study about the Aztecs.The illustrations really help to bring the period to life.It covers some mature topics though, like human sacrifice that I hope won't disturb kids reading this book.A great overview about the conquest of Mexico.

Empathy for the Aztecs
Tanaka attempts to portray Cortez's invasion of Mexico from the persective of the Aztecs.Illustrations are vivid and there is lots of information and food for discussion in these pages.Minor discrepancies exist, butoverall an excellent book to help balance the Western view of history. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aztecs    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. History    5. History - Mexico    6. Juvenile literature    7. Social Science - General    8. Social life and customs    9. Juvenile Nonfiction / History / Ancient   

Reviews (4)

The Best Autobiography by Far! by Sammy K. 4th Grade
I am Jewish, and I learned a lot from this book. I learned about life in Warsaw, and about the time period around World War I. It shows how that time compares to this, and how much more we have now than back then. Lots of people take electric lights for granted. This book shows what it was like to live through freezing weather, hunger, and stress about war.
The childhood of a master story- teller
Singer just has it. These vignettes of his childhood do not have the emotional power of his greatest stories but they are rich with life, insight and humor. And somehow he tells stories even when he is making simple descriptions of his early life. This work too tells the pain and poverty of his childhood and the difficulty of his parents' lives. It is too a tribute to a world - gone .
I read this for a 6th grade book report and loved it!
This book is a very good read for anyone and everyone that likes to read about foreign culture-- or even if you don't!I usually detest biographies and book reports, but reading this book made it FUN! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1904-    2. 1904-1991    3. Authors, Yiddish    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography - Cultural Heritage    6. Biography & Autobiography - Literary    7. Childhood and youth    8. Children's Books/Young Adult Biography    9. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    10. Homes and haunts    11. Jews    12. Poland    13. Religion - Judaism    14. Singer, Isaac Bashevis,    15. Warsaw    16. Juvenile Nonfiction / Social Science / Customs, Traditions, Anthropology   

Reviews (3)

Nazi Olymics
The book I read on the Holocaust was called The Nazi Olympics: Berlin 1936 by Susan D. Bachrach. This book is about the Olympics held by the Nazis.In this book, it tells about the steps Nazis took to hold the Olympics.It also tells you where exactly the Olympics were held. This book is not a book that actually tells a story, it is a factual book that tells facts and gives you images to describe the facts.Adolf Hitler was head of Germany's Government.In 1931, Berlin was chosen as the site of the 1936 Summer Games.After World War I, Hitler and the Nazi promised a "new Germany" that would give to those many Germans who were fearful to the future.Soon Germany was turned into a police state for "Aryans only".As the year of 1936 came closer and closer with the Olympics, people questioned whether the Olympics should be held in a country whose ideology ran counter to the ideals that inspired to the Games.Many participants questioned the same thing.

Absolutely wonderful!
This large and attractive book tells the story of the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin. Many Americans have heard of them, though their knowledge is limited to the fact that Jesse Owens, an African-American, won four gold medals, humiliating Adolf Hitler. This book tells the story of those Olympics from the choice of venue in 1931, through the rise of Hitler and National Socialism, the Nazi racial policies, the movement to boycott the games, the Olympics themselves, and finally on to the aftermath of the games and the Holocaust. Following the texts are some wonderful appendices on the chronology of the games, statistics on the 1896-1936 Olympics, and a list of nations participating in the 1936 Olympics. But don't stop there! After the index is collection of in-color reproductions of posters and artwork connected with the 1936 Olympics.
High quality writing, graphics and layout
The most striking feature about The Nazi Olypmics is the layout. Photos from the Library of Congress, National Holocaust museum, and a variety of personal and corporate collections are nicely arranged.The illustrations emphasize that Nazi propaganda convinced participating countries that the 1936 Olympic Games were going to adhere to the Olympic code and be inclusive of all peoples and faiths.Magazine covers, newspaper headlines, political cartoons, and pictures of segregated Nazi and Jewish sports clubs reinforce the point that Nazi ideology was (and still is) directly opposite the Olympic code, in spite of Hilter's assurances to the contrary. Read more

Subjects:  1. (11th :    2. 1933-1945    3. 1936 :    4. Berlin, Germany)    5. Children's 9-12 - History - General    6. Children: Grades 4-6    7. Germany    8. History    9. History - Europe    10. Juvenile Nonfiction    11. Juvenile literature    12. Olympic Games    13. Olympics    14. Political aspects    15. Social Science - Politics & Government    16. Sports & Recreation - Olympics    17. European history: from c 1900 -    18. History of specific subjects    19. Inter-war period, 1918-1939    20. Juvenile Nonfiction / History / Modern   

Reviews (7)

A great way to memorize!
If a silly picture of a gust of wind blowing down Main Street doesn't do anything for you, you've never read "Yo, Sacramento!" It should remind you that Augusta is the capital of Maine.The whole book is a marvelous mix of funny mnemonic cartoons with interesting facts about the states and capitals.My eight year old daughter loves this book and its companion, "Yo, Millard Filmore!"; she memorized the Presidents in a few minutes and the states/capitals in a couple days. And although I hate to admit that I couldn't remember them from my school days, the books helped me learn them too. (I don't know about the "never forget" part, but it does stick with you, and it's easy to pick back up.) When we showed these books to my family, my niece (the daughter of a social studies teacher) even told me she thought it was too easy; it must be cheating somehow to learn them this way! Our wonderful United States
Yo, Sacramento! is a humorous incentive to learn the capitals for every state. The word pictures which aid memory recall are sure to prompt hearty laughter. The fast-paced writing style is an added bonus. One can laugh, learn facts, and have state capitals memorized in under 30 minutes!

The best book around to teach states and capitals
This book really helps a child or an adult to memorize states and capitals within 20 minutes. I have never come across any program so precise. My kids really enjoy learning with the picture and word association method used inthe book. This book should be used in all schools around the world. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Capitals (Cities)    2. Children's 9-12 - Sociology    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Geography    6. History - United States/General    7. History - United States/State & Local    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Miscellanea    11. People & Places - United States    12. Social Studies - General    13. United States    14. Non-Classifiable   

Reviews (2)

Great book for youth groups :)
As a long time guide leader (like girl scouts in the USA :) ) I use this book all the time with my unit of girls aged 9-14. It is full of wonderful ideas - some practical ones ready to do instantly, some which make the girls stop and think about things, and some which require a bit more planning to make happen. Hands Around the World: 365 Creative Ways to Build Cultural
For teachers, parents, and other caregivers of children of a broad age range, I highly recommend this book. The ideas are well displayed and organized and, when acted upon, should prove to fulfill their promise ofhelping to build cultural awareness. The overall upbeat tone of the writingshould encourage both adults and children to enjoy it. There are additionalappended lists of relevant organizations, suppliers, and book titles. As achildren's librarian, I can attest to the potential usefulness of this veryhandy volume! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity Books - General    2. Activity programs    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Crafts & Hobbies - General    5. Cultural awareness    6. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    7. Juvenile Arts And Crafts    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Multicultural education    11. People & Places - General    12. Race awareness    13. Social Science - General    14. Philosophy of education    15. The environment   

Reviews (3)

The worst
This book is to put it plainly, horrible. It lightly brushes over topics with out going even slightly deeper in to them, and seems to be a collection of texts from old history/geography text books. You don't learn much about culture here. Doesn't belong in a high school
I am currently a junior in an advanced placement history class, and my freshman year this book was my text for a supposedly accelerated class. The book is incomprehensive and the analysis of important historical concepts is poor. The book spends a paragraph on covering communism. The entire textbook only has one paragraph on communism! It is a wonderful text for middle school students; however, it does not belong in my high school, or any other for that matter.

Great Reference!
This is an amazing text on the culture and geography of the world! There is an introductory unit, Africa unit (which I am on), South Asia, Southeast Asia; Australia; and Oceania, and many others. It really helps you understand it clearly. It is a great text to refer to if you have any questions about culture and geography. In each unit there is a section on the geography and early histry, a seciton on the heritage, and a section about the place in transitition, and it in the world today, if I remember correctly. Wow! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    2. History - General    3. Juvenile Nonfiction    4. People & Places - General    5. Social Science - Customs, Traditions, Anthropology   

Reviews (8)

Getting it Right
The author writes well and with grace. The topic of infectious disease is easily misinterpreted by terms such as "the deadly_________" that pervades the cheap popular press, but none of that here. She also writes with accuracy from having read the relevant literature.I do not think this a children's book but rather a chatty and intelligent exploration of the plagues of our times. I would place on the level of Hans Zinsser, Macfarlane Burnet but without the inevitable academic claptrap. Whether she will continue her frank and unembroidered style as she continues in academic medicine is anybodies guess, but if anyone can write a history of AIDS, she can!

Just a Start to What You'll Want to Know About Diseases
Some people say that a book has "more than you'll ever want to know" about such and such a thing.Realistically, though, a single volume cannot contain all information on a subject.This book, Invisible Enemies, is not more than you'll ever want to know... it's a start to a whole new search for knowledge. Awesome
I picked up this book looking at the cover trying to figure out his picture. I then looked at the titleee and it clicked. I read this for school and it wasn't hard to finish it because it amazed me with what everything really was. Usually I read fiction books that have diseases or disorders in them. I figured that there should be some explaination for me. It wasnt hard to follow. Also everything was explained very well. I didn't have any real background other than the fictions books that you really couldn't go by. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Medicine    2. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Communicable diseases    5. Health & Daily Living - Diseases    6. History    7. Infectious Diseases    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Science & Nature - Biology    11. Social Science - General   

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 4-6    2. Education / Teaching    3. Juvenile Nonfiction    4. Social Science - General    5. Teaching Methods & Materials - Social Science   

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 3-4    2. Juvenile Nonfiction    3. Social Science - General   

Reviews (3)

Highly recommended
This is a wonderful book that introduces children to history in a simple and interesting way.As a teacher, I would highly recommend it.It offers a mixture of photographs, drawings and text.I personally liked the back and forth style of the book.I think the point is to show how that the lives of the pioneers and Native Americans were definitely connected as well as to illustrate how their lives compared and contrasted.The format makes it very user friendly.

ONE STAR IS TOO MUCH!
I absolutely loathed this book out of all of the books in the series.It spends too much time jumping back and forth between the pioneers and the Native Americans!I did not like the setup at all, to the point where I would rather not buy this book, even if it completes my collection of American Girls Collection books.If you want a book that jumps around too much between two worlds and does not give a good idea of either world, feel free to pick it up.But there are plenty of other books out there on Pioneers and Native Americans, many of which probably make more sense!

An Historical Scrapbook
Whether you are a fan of the American Girls Collection or not, this book is historically accurate and delightful.The story tracks Kirsten's family's journey from Sweeden to the New World using primary sourcedocuments like photographs, newspaper articles, letters, and artifacts. Gathered together like a museum exhibit, the information is layered so thatreaders of different ages and interest levels can engage in Kirsten's lifeon the prairie, where she lives in a sod dugout and interacts with thelocal Native Americans and settlers from all over the world.This is agreat book for in the classroom or in the home! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Frontier and pioneer life    5. History    6. History - United States/19th Century    7. Juvenile Historical Fiction    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Pioneer children    11. Social Science - Customs, Traditions, Anthropology    12. Social life and customs    13. Swedish Americans    14. West (U.S.)   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Determination (Personality tra    4. Determination (Personality trait)    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile Social Problems (General)    7. Juvenile literature    8. Persistence    9. Personal Growth - Happiness    10. Psychology    11. Social Issues - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    12. Social Issues - Values & Virtues    13. Social Science - Psychology    14. Personal, health & social education (PHSE)   

Reviews (2)

What a great book!
This book is recommended for ages 9-12, but my 6-year-old ate it up and my 4-year-old enjoyed it too.I bought it because my girls are going through a knights and castles thing, and this was recommended as a good place to learn about them.I thought we'd just read that section and put it on the shelf until the other subjects came up.Well my 6-year-old saw things differently. She loves this book.She loves the way it is laid out and what she is learning from it.She had no interest in Vikings or Romans or Egyptians before this, but now she wants more on all these topics.And it is a fun book for me to read too.It is reminding me of things I hadn't learned since I was a child, and the diagrams are so clear that maybe I am learning things better than I did when I was a child.

Four books in one, excellent information!
WOW, this is a compilation of four different civilizations, it includes ALOT of information on understanding how these ancient groups lived.I have learned alot of interesting facts every time I haved looked through the pages.The illustration in it is amazing, there is not a corner leftempty in this huge book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. History - General    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Juvenile literature    6. Knights and knighthood    7. Social Science - General    8. Social life and customs    9. Travel    10. Vikings    11. World history   

Reviews (2)

Saved a new teacher
I am only in my second year teaching high school english and just found this book. I wish I had discovered it earlier! Ms. Singer opened my eyes to a whole new way of engaging my students - they actually LOVE my class now and nearly every student has made incredible progress. Just seeing their confidence grow as they realize they have the capability to write is truly a joy to watch. Our school year is just ending, but I'm already looking forward to the coming years and I am so happy to have found this book.

Excellent curriculum for your class!
This book really inspired me when I read it. I am a high school teacher and was able to use the information immediately in my class. The students really responded to the work. I recommend the book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    2. Education    3. General    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Language Arts - Composition & Creative Writing    6. Social Science (General) (Young Adult)    7. Social Science - Sociology    8. Social action    9. Social justice    10. Sociology    11. Study and teaching (Secondary)    12. United States   

Reviews (1)

Great for Sunday School
This book has excellent photographs from a good variety of religious practices.I just used it in my kindergarten/1st grade sunday school class.I asked the children questions about their church and what a picture from their church would look like on the page.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 = Religion - World Religions    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Juvenile Customs / Etiquette    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile Religion    7. Juvenile literature    8. Pictorial works    9. Religion - General    10. Religions    11. Social Science - Customs, Traditions, Anthropology    12. Juvenile Nonfiction / Religion / General   

Reviews (2)

Perfect for our homeschooling family!
We have been reading this book over and over again at bedtime. My children are 5.5 and 2 and both of them love hearing about how different people around the world celebrate one of our favorite times of the year. As a bonus, it gives us all kind of fodder for unit studies! I can't wait till it's time to start reading the Shortest Day!

Wonderful Book for ALL Children!
Even though we happen to be a Pagan family, any family would enjoy the history of the Autumn Equinox in this book. It's great to read what many ancient cultures did to celebrate the harvest and incorporate some into our modern life. Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Sociology    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 2-3    4. Festivals    5. Harvest festivals    6. Holidays    7. Holidays & Celebrations - General    8. Holidays & Festivals - General    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Juvenile literature    11. Social Science - Customs, Traditions, Anthropology    12. Social Studies - Customs, Traditions, Anthropology    13. Juvenile Nonfiction / Nature / Weather   

Reviews (3)

Great book for older kids
I bought this book for my 10 year old son.He loves non-fiction books and has some interest in Greek mythology.He is constantly reading this book.I've looked through it too and it's an interesting starter book on many types of mythology. I will probably read it once I can pry it out of my son's hands.It would probably be a good book for middle school aged kids who are starting to learn about Greek or Roman mythology in school.

A Great Reference for World Mythology
I purchased this book last year because my 7th grade English class was going to do a unit on Greek Mythology. My teacher recommended this book to anyone who had no previous knowledge of Greek Mythology. The layout of this book is done by geographical location. It has different sectors for India, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, Africa, Egypt, The Near East, Rome, Celtic Lands, Norse Lands, North America, Central America, South America, Oceania, and Australia. It then gives you an introduction to mythology and mythological characters. After that it digs in to the information. Godesses rule!
This book has a lot of facts about gods, godesses, and monsters. Buy this for info!If you are into gods and goddesses, then I highly reccomend this book.Good for teachers! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Sociology    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Folklore    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Juvenile literature    6. Mythology    7. Reference - Encyclopedias    8. Social Studies - Folklore & Mythology   

Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    2. Juvenile Nonfiction    3. People & Places - General    4. Social Science - General   

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 4-6    2. Juvenile Nonfiction    3. Social Science - General   

Reviews (1)

Powerful
My copy of "The Storm" came today, and it's stunning.Everyone in my office stood around in the hallway as we looked through the kids' memories and drawings, utterly absorbed.At least five people immediately said they were going to order copies -- both for themselves, and for their schools.
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Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 2-3    2. Disasters & Disaster Relief    3. History - United States/State & Local    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Natural Disasters    6. Science & Nature - Earth Sciences - Weather    7. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    8. Sociology    9. United States - State & Local - South   

Reviews (1)

Traditional Native American Crafts and Activities
This is an excellent book that provides kids with accurate, historical information about Native Americans.Read more

Subjects:  1. Art - General    2. Children's 9-12 - Sociology    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 People & Places    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Indian craft    6. Indians of North America    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. Material culture    10. Native Americans    11. North America    12. People & Places - United States - Native American    13. Social Science - Customs, Traditions, Anthropology    14. Social Studies - Customs, Traditions, Anthropology    15. Social life and customs    16. Art of indigenous peoples    17. Indigenous peoples    18. Interactive & activity books & packs    19. Juvenile Nonfiction / Ethnic / Native American    20. USA