Time Trekkers: Middle Ages (The Time Trekkers Visit)
Grade 3-4?A fast-paced, highly visual format is the vehicle that propels this reasonably successful presentation of facts about the Middle Ages. The trekkers, Lucy, Jools, Sam, and Eddie, are friends who travel through time via Lucy's grandfather's time machine. The story line that follows their adventures is accompanied by colorful, cartoonlike illustrations. On each double-page spread are at least two insets called "gizmos." The gizmo represents an electronic, hand-held device possessed by each of the four children and provides information falling within five color-coded categories?science, places and people, history and arts, cross sections, and definitions of terms. A "Gizmo Puzzler" at the end poses questions that require readers to revisit the illustrations and peruse them in more detail.  Readers are also asked to track Jools's frog's whereabouts?an amphibian Waldo of sorts. A brief historical overview of the period is appended. Though this title has drawbacks (occasional Briticisms and typographical errors), it does have the potential to stimulate further inquiry. Though not a first choice for information, the book should have some appeal for younger students and primarily visual learners.?Celia A. Huffman, Worthington Public Library, OHCopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.