Barbarians!
Grade 4–7—Kroll describes, in a chapter each, the way of life for Goths, Huns, Vikings, and Mongols; the political, economic, and societal pressures that caused them to leave their homes; and the leaders who successfully changed their boundaries of influence. Byrd's watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations add a level of detail that will help children visualize the dif-ferent groups of men, women, and children. Full spreads as well as smaller border pictures depict a representative home and some aspects of the community, including agricultural practices, style of dress, building materials, etc. Religious beliefs, including the relationship between paganism and Christianity and the practice of scapulimancy (predicting the future by reading the cracks in burned animal bones) are explored. The dense text is presented in a small-sized font, making the book best suited for older elementary or middle school readers. While the layout and art may indicate a younger audience, elementary-grade children who take the time to explore the work will be rewarded by a thought-provoking, action-packed glimpse into a less-familiar part of history. A detailed time line helps unite the four parts of the book and sets the stage for the Europeans' expansion during the "Age of Discovery" in the 1400s.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.