American Revolution from A to Z, The
Grade 2–5—Using an alphabet-book format, Crawford presents snippets of information about the American Revolution. Many topics are familiar, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and liberty, but others may be new to children, such as Lydia Darragh ("S is for Spy"), or Betty Zane, who brought gunpowder to the patriots. The audience for the book is somewhat unclear. Events and people are presented without context or a time line, so previous knowledge of the war is mandatory. Children familiar with the period are likely to be put off by the format and the nonlinear presentation. The letters themselves are written in an old-fashioned script that is often difficult to read. The best element of the book is its design. Vivid watercolor paintings often incorporate entries for two or three letters within the flowing spreads. No sources, bibliography, or index are included. The book could be used for writing or research prompts, but it isn't useful for reports or general information.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.