Kids Make History: A New Look at America's Story
Grade 4–8—This book introduces 20 children in extraordinary times, starting in 1607 with Pocahontas and ending in 2001 with 9/11 as experienced by high school senior Jukay Hsu. Laura Ingalls Wilder; John Rankin, Jr.; and Susie Baker, a young slave celebrating her independence in 1863, are among those included. The text and the highly detailed watercolor illustrations are married with numbers in small red boxes keyed to both elements for clarification. The authors use quotations and fictionalized dialogue, distinguishing between the two with quotes and single quotes. (Oddly, this coding is explained on the last spread, so kids won't know the difference as they read the book.) Often, readers will be left wanting to know more and will need to be directed to more in-depth accounts. A good browsing choice for children interested in American history.—Lisa Gangemi Kropp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NYCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.