Growing Up in a New Century 1890 to 1914 (Our America)
Reviewed with Judith Pinkerton Josephson'sGrowing Up in World War II.Gr. 5-8. Books in the attractive Our America series give today's children an opportunity to understand what childhood and adolescence were like for America's youth in the past. Each book focuses on several children describing various aspects of their lives. InNew Century,one girl is growing up on a southern plantation; another child is Kermit, the son of Teddy Roosevelt. The organization could have been better, but the writing is lively as Josephson gives a general introduction to the times, including such topics as work, play, and education.World War IIfollows a similar pattern, but the emphasis is on what it was like to live through the war years. Both books feature evocative black-and-white photographs. The design is pleasing, but sometimes particular pictures take up a whole page when a half would do. Footnotes, a selected bibliography bolstered by a list of books and Web sites, and a two-page spread of follow-up activities round out each book.Ilene CooperCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved