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Soldiers, scientists, performers, writers, entrepreneurs, politicians, quilt makers, pilots... as author Lynne Cheney writes, "America’s amazing women have much to teach our children--and much inspiration to offer us, as well." Coming on the heels of America: A Patriotic Primer(Cheney’s previous collaboration with illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser), A Is for Abigail celebrates the achievements of women in American history, with a special emphasis on the individuals who helped win equal rights for women. As with America, Cheney uses an alphabet book format to introduce hundreds of remarkable real women: "O is for SANDRA DAY O’CONNOR and others who were first." In addition to the first woman Supreme Court Justice, the "O" page includes Wilma Mankiller, first woman chief of the Cherokee Nation; Jeannette Rankin, first female member of Congress; and Nellie Tayloe Ross, first woman governor. Glasser’s playful illustrations are lively and busy, inviting readers to explore Abigail Adams's farm or the crowded city block that houses "V is for VARIETY," with its DNA lab, dance studio, dentist office, and "PERSONS at WORK" sign. Snippets of information about each featured woman give a taste; ideally, readers will seek more in-depth biographies about the historical figures who pique their interests. (Ages 6 to 9) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A is for Amazing
This is a wonderful primer on the history of women in America. It paints a very vivid picture, using wonderful and engaging illustrations to draw you into what is a picture narrative. In spite of what some reviewers have said, the diversity in this book is wonderful. Harriet Tubman and Sacagawea are on the front cover of the book, two of five women featured, and Rosa Parks is featured on the back cover alongside Sandra Day O'Connor and Eleanor Roosevelt. As someone who works in the educational publishing field, it is obvious that a lot of thought was put into representing women from various ethnic backgrounds. Apart from the real non white women featured including: Mary McLeod Bethune, Ida Wells-Barnett, Sui Fin Far, Madame C. J. Walker, Harriet Tubman, Bessie Coleman, Lena Horne, Pearl Bailey, Judith Jamison, Chita Rivera, Rita Moreno, Hazel Harrison, Annie Dodge Wauneka, Charlotte Ray, Zora Neale Hurston, Euphemia Lofton Haynes, the list of women of color and other backgrounds depicted in this book (the list goes on and on), the illustrator has worked hard to include depictions of minorities in the incidental art. I honestly don't understand the diversity complaints at all; they must have been looking at another book. I would recomnd A is for Abigail to girls and women of all ages and men as well. It's just a whole lot of fun to look at and you'll learn a few things about the amazing women who did great things for our country.

A Beautiful Tribute To Women
In this beautiful book, the accomplishments of women throughout American history are described briefly but with great attention to detail. Women from all walks of life, as well as all backgrounds and generations are represented, and it is a little surprising to discover how many women achieved greatness even before the current generation. As a woman and mother of 4 girls, I find this book delightful, informative, encouraging, interesting, and lovely to look at. The illustrations are colorful and lively, perfect for children of all ages. I strongly recommend adding this book to your home library.

A lovely and meaningful book.
"Remember the Ladies," Abigail Adams told her husband in a 1776 letter. In fact she went so far as to warn him, "If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation." Unfortunately it was not until the 1900s before women were able to vote. Still, they found many ways to make their mark, have their say, and get their way.

Presented in the format of an alphabet book, A IS FOR ABIGAIL is a remarkable collection of stories about women who have made a difference in the history of the United States. Each beautifully illustrated, often annotated, page is packed with information and quotes. We are shown how women have been able to make a difference in various aspects of life, despite opposition. They have been fliers, artists, business people and inventors, to name only a few occupations.

Robin Preiss Glasser finds the most extraordinary ways to present this information. For example, the letter F stands for "First Ladies." Portraits of them are shown on teacups, milk jugs, sugar bowls, coffee pots, and teapots. The women who made their mark in the press are shown on the front of a newspaper, while those ladies who gained fame as performers are shown on a stage.

By the time we close this extraordinary book we feel empowered, knowing that women have achieved so much in a world that has not always been hospitable to their successes. We should all be proud of and grateful to Lynne Cheney and her wonderful illustrator for creating such a lovely and meaningful book.

--- Reviewed by Marya Jansen-Gruber (mjansengruber@mindspring.com)

Wonderful Children's Book
My daughter loves to look through this as I read it to her. She loves alphabet books and this one teaches her about her country.
I would highly recommend this book.

Abigail Adams and hundreds of other American women
You might think that from the title of "A is for Abigail: An Almanac of Amazing American Women," that Lynne Cheney (yes, the wife of the Vice President of the United States), is going to introduce us to twenty-six women, one for each letter of the alphabet. You might be wondering if Cheney is going to go by first names or last names, since Abigail is Abigail Adams (the wife of the first Vice President of the United States) and you could go either way. The answer to the second question is the Cheney uses last names but more importantly on the first point she introduces us to a lot more than twenty-six American women. For example, "D" is for Emily Dickinson, the country's greatest poet, but the names of other poets from Edna St. Vincent Milay to Sylvia Plath, while "F" is for the First Ladies from Martha Washington to Laura Bush, and includes a great quotation from Barbara Bush's great commencement speech at Wellesley College in 1990. Then you should see the four page spread that opens up to show all the performers for "P," from Carol Burnett to Katharine Hepburn, or everything that is crammed into the two pages on "U" for US history.

The back of this book includes Notes on the Text that provides details about all 28 of those poets and some of the First Ladies. The illustrations are by Robin Preiss Glasser, who collaborated with Cheney on "America: A Patriotic Primer." Hopefully one day young readers will be able to appreciate the details that Glasser puts into her art, such as having Carol Burnett in the infamous curtain dress from the "Gone with the Wind" parody and doing the painting of Mary Cassatt in the style of a Mary Cassatt painting. This book intends to bring to light the "remarkable (although often unmarked) achievements of American women." Young readers should be captivated just by what they learn about Abigail Adams on the opening spread of this engaging volume, and if what little they learn here about Althea Gibson, Elizabeth Peabody, Jane Addams, Nellie Bly, Anne Sullivan and the rest of these American women inspires them to find out some more details about even a half-dozen of them, that would certainly be a step in the right direction. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Richie's Picks: HITLER YOUTH
"To continue reading their favorite books, the Scholl children formed their own clandestine reading circle and shared forbidden books with others.Hans found himself in trouble again when a Hitler Youth leader caught him reading a book by a Jewish author.The leader ripped the book from Han's hands.'This filth is forbidden,' said the leader.
"On the night of May 10, 1933, in many German cities, university students and Storm Troopers carried flaming torches and marched behind trucks and oxcarts filled with banned books.In Berlin, Bert Lewyn watched as the Storm Troopers and students tossed the books onto a huge pile and then poured gasoline over it.They touched the pile with their torches.'The whole thing exploded into a column of flame many feet high,' said Bert.'I was too scared to say a word.'
"The work of Heinrich Heine, a German poet of Jewish origin, burned among the books.One hundred years earlier, Heine had warned, 'Where one burns books, one will, in the end, burn people.' "

I grew up in suburban Long Island with quite a few Jewish friends.A bunch of them had parents who stuck them in Commack's experimental Extended School Year Program in the mid-Sixties, as my mom did with us. We were tracked together in high school, worked together on Student Council and National Honor Society, and got together for rock concerts, birthday parties and cast parties.To varying degrees we were all pretty good students and all a little bit wild.

"Although a poor student himself, Hitler had definite ideas about education.For Hitler, education had one purpose: to mold children into good Nazis.As soon as the Nazis came to power, they took control of the public schools, called National Schools.They threw out oldtextbooks and implemented new ones.They rewrote the curriculum from top to bottom, so that it only taught Nazi-approved ideas."

They also threw out any teachers who wouldn't get with the new curriculum, as well as all the Jewish teachers.

Being just one generation removed from the days of WWII and the Holocaust, I have always had a desire to understand how a whole nation could seemingly be accomplices in the murder of six million Jews, some of them close relatives of guys I'd spent weeks camping with and girls with whom I'd often shared saliva.

"In April 1933, the Nazis passed the Law Against the Overcrowdingof German Schools.The new law placed a limit on the number of Jews allowed to attend elementary schools, secondary schools, and universities.'They [the Jews] have no business being among us true Germans,' explained one Nazi teacher to his students"

HITLER YOUTH doesn't totally solve the mystery for me of how you convince a country to commit such unspeakable atrocities and for the world to condone the evolving process for so long.But as with Susan Campbell Bartoletti's previous award-winning books, HITLER YOUTH is an impeccably researched and eminently readable informational book that goes much farther in explaining the inexplicable than any book I've ever read.Much of the power of HITLER YOUTH comes from the author beginning the book with initial presentations of a dozen young Germans from those days--with photos and thumbnail bios--and then presenting significant amounts of the story in the words of those twelve people.

Included among those twelve are a real hero and heroine, two young siblings who would eventually help form the famed White Rose resistance group:

"Without doubt, his father, Robert Scholl, was proud of his son.He had once told his children: 'What I want most of all is that you live in uprightness and freedom of spirit, no matter how difficult that may be.'
"Those were words that Hans and Sophie Scholl would never forget.Over the years, the brother and sister grew deeply disillusioned with National Socialism.They resented the loss of individual rights and personal freedoms.They wanted the right to make their own decisions and lead their own lives.
" 'I must go my own way, and I do so gladly,' Hans once wrote to a friend.'I'm not anxious to avoid a host of dangers and temptations.My sole ambition must be to perceive things clearly and calmly.'
"Sophie said it another way.In her diary she once wrote, 'After all, one should have the courage to believe only in what is good.By that, I do not mean one should believe in illusions.I mean one should do only what is true and good and take it for granted that others will do the same.' "

The Hitler Youth was established in 1926.They were kicking Jews out of school in 1933.I can't help but feel that if you were an adult or young adult and hadn't figured it out by then, you had to be racist, extremely ignorant, or both.That includes a number of American journalists of the time who gave the Hitler Youth movement rave reviews.That people inside and outside of Germany did not raise their voices in outrage during the rise of Hitler cost the world those six million innocent Jewish lives, the lives of six million other "enemies of the Reich" (including homosexuals), as well as the millions and millions of additional deaths and scared lives from among those who fought in WWII.

The lesson for me has always been to cherish my own First Amendment rights and to shout out about prejudice, about invading other countries, about book burning, and about questionable political agendas involving public schools.

It is my hope that readers of HITLER YOUTH will perceive connections with today's and tomorrow's current events and that the book will inspire them to similarly shout out when they perceive intolerance in their world.
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Reviews (1)

Taking the Middle Ages out of the Dark Ages
We had a lot of fun studying the Middle Ages, and this Guide and the text it accomanies were part of the reason. The Famous Men series introduces children to history through biographies of key people in the era being studied. The Guide helps the teacher take children deeper and provides helpful lists of additional resources, both for the instructor and the students. Lots of good ideas. Lots of good titles, most of which we were able to find in the library. (One of our favorites was Days of Knights & Damsels by Laurie Carlson, with fun activities and tasty recipes.) As with other Greenleaf Guides, this one is a bit more effective with older children, but can be adapted for the younger set. It worked for our family; I recommend it for yours! ... Read more

Reviews (57)

Modern-day Anne Frank
Zlata's Diary is a masterpiece. A modern-day Diary of Anne Frank is what comes to mind when I think about this book. Zlata is a girl from Sarajevo, writing as only a child can write about terrors that only adults can inflict. From start to finish, this remarkable books keeps you hoping and praying, for Zlata and for her family and friends. Her diary begins before the war, with typical young-girl items like piano lessons and parties, but quickly becomes a nightmare of bombs and guns. She escapes to Paris, and looks back with sorrow. It is a truly moving text.

Zlata writes as any girl would write, in the beginning. The early part of her diary (it begins in September 1991) deals with ideas about school starting and what happened last summer. Short entries into a girl's diary, not too deep, somewhat interesting but also very typical. She could be any girl in any city in this country. She talks about her friends, her favorite TV shows, her music lessons, and enjoying pizza.

She is 11 years old.

But in less than a year, all of that changes.

She is writing letters and entries recounting horrible events of warfare. Less than a year after she was wondering about the top songs on MTV and her music and friends, she was writing profound letters of love, life and survival.

She recounts hiding in dark, ugly cellars, and hearing bombs dropping, and being very afraid. She writes of her friend Nina who died in of shrapnel in the brain -- another 11 year old girl, just like Zlata. They went to kindergarten together, they played together. Now Nina was dead.

Zlata and members of her family escaped to Paris by December 1993; the diary ends at that point. Zlata grew up tremendously, much as Anne Frank did, during those few years of the war. She learned the terminology and dangers of war as well as any professional soldier. She learned the horrors and deprivations. She also remained a little girl, with her childish, childlike hope for peace for all.

She escaped, but how many didn't? Published in 1994 while there was still fighting in Sarajevo, this is a book of hope. And sadly the fighting hasn't stopped in that part of the world. Children have lost parents, siblings, family members, friends, and their whole way of life.

It is for them that Zlata wrote her diary. We should remember them.

An honest overview of Zlata's book from some1 who was there!
Zlata's diary is an overall so-so book. It does not have the literal quality, nor the originality of Anne Frank's diary, but it has something else very important: a clear picture of what was going on in Sarajevo during the beginning of the Bosnian war.(Remember, Zlata left in mid of 1993, there were two and a half more years that other Sarajevans spent in war...This book was a view of a girl, 11 years old, who saw the people that were her neighbors until yesterday go to the mountains around the city and shoot at her, her family and friends, and innocent many others she didn't know but she felt sad for...Zlata gives out a picture of what it was like to live under fire every day, where your every move could be your last, where you are not safe not in your home, nor deep underground in the shelter. It was a time of sadness for Sarajevo, which used to be one of Europe's most metropolitan cities. Zlata's diary serves not to spread propaganda and evoke sadness in the West and make sure it does something,this book is so the West can be ashamed of what it didn't do. It is a great reference for anyone who plans to write about, or visit Sarajevo.

Zlata's Diary
Zlata's Diary by, Zlata Filipovic is a tremendously exciting book. This book was defiantly a page-turner for two main reasons. First, the thoughts and feelings coming from this 11-year old girl is phenomenal. Second, her story starts out like any other and it is incredible to see how much her life is affected by a war. A girl having a near to perfect life, going through a war, then having her friends and family ripped apart. The reader thins they can predict how things are going to turn out, then all of the sudden, it all changes. I loved this book because of it's theme and I recommend this book to anybody who has the chance to read it!

5th graders [from] Caracas Venezuela
We are a group of 5th graders ... We just read the book Zlata's Diary and it was a great book and we decided to give a book review to Amazon.com. It is a book about a depressed girl named Zlata who is living through a war. This war has taken away her childhood. She has recorded her daily life through Mimi, her diary. The book was a little confusing because it had so many names of people we did not know. Even though the war is going on Zlata finds a way to bring humor out. We really think you should read this book because it is informative and intrigung. We highly recommend this book to 5th grade and above

TRIUMPH THROUGH THE TRAGEDY OF WAR
The story of Zlata Filipovic is a very touching story of a young girl that escaped the terrors of war not just physically, but through writing in her diary which she fondly refers to as "Mimmie." This story brings a sense of reality to the wars that we read about in newpapers and watch on TV - it tells the stories of people just like you and me who find themselves caught in the middle of the ugliness of war. Zlata's story has an added sense of innocence to it because it is told through the writings of a child - through her eyes in the way she saw it. Zlata Filipovic is the story of a courageous individual, who as we see in the book along with her fmily managed to escape the horrors of war after writing her story. I feel that her story gives us a similar perspective to that which Anne Frank gave us through the diary which she kept during World War II. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

What King George III thought about the American Revolution
King George III of England was a tyrant. Thomas Jefferson said so when he wrote the Declaration of Independence and that was why we had the American Revolution and the rest was history. Except that most elementary school American History textbooks have very little to saw about King George III, a defect that Jean Fritz seeks to correct in this comic but historical view of the famous tyrant. Young readers will learn that King George III collected clocks and ate sauerkraut (the house of Hanover hailed from Germany after all), became a king when he was only twenty-two, married Princess Charlotte and had sixteen children, and tried to be a frugal monarch when it came to managing the money of his country (they are some very interesting examples of how he did this). Consequently, Fritz gives his readers an entirely different view of the taxation (without representation) that was a key catalyst for American independence.

"Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?" is one of a series of books by Fritz that teach young students about the major figures and events of the American Revolution (e.g., "Will You Sign Here, John Hancock?", "Why Don't You Get a Horse, Sam Adams?). There are historical facts and easy humor in equal measure in this volume, but I think that the most important aspect of the book remains that it gives us the British perspective on the American war for independence. There is also a footnote about the King's problems with porphyria, which will be important if young readers are interested enough in the life of this kill to check out the film version of "The Madness of King George," the only film to feature George III in a prominent role. This book has pictures by Tomie De Paola in keeping with the tone of the book, which shows that even if George III was a tyrant, that did not mean he was a bad person. After all, this was a king who made buttons.

it's fun to read and you learn a lot from it
I learned all kinds of things about King George, Queen Charlotte and others. It really helped me with my research on the Revolutionary war. In this book you get to learn the funny things about King George and things that happened during his time.

Historically funny and accurate
Jean Fritz has created many fabulous books for children. "Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?" is one of my favorites. It shows the beginning of the American Revolution from the eyes of King George. The book is humerous and historically correct. Kids and adults will enjoy reading it together! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

There are better choices.
I found this book sadly lacking in substance and quality activities. Spend your money on Days of Knights and Damsels by Carlson.

An Anti-Church Guide to the Middle Ages
This book has many interesting arts & craft ideas which kids find fun. However, one must endure numerous unsympathetic interpretations of the times which present the Church and Christians in general as ignorant and superstitious people. For example, the book states that Joan of Ark "heard voices in her head that helped her do battle and led her to victory." Such a statement would lead one to believe that she was really schizophrenic and not a saint of the Church. There are simply too many examples of this kind of smug, retrospective arrogance towards Christians of the past to list in this review. In every chapter, Christians are painted as stupid, blood thirsty, narrow-minded, etc. Their anti-Church bias is just too blatant to overlook.
One would be better off checking out Martha Stewart's kid magazine for craft ideas and pick up a less biased history book to read to children. Any Christian educator will want to avoid this book.

Fantastic Read
This book is an excellent tool to use. The projects: Build your own castle & catapult was LOVED by my 9 & 7 yr olds. The information was in a way that kids could read & understand it all. Very useful for all.

At last an activity book that says for ages 6-12 & means it!
As a homeschooling parent, I am always on the lookout for interesting and fun learning resources. This book was not a disappointment for our family. The activities truly range in age ability and interest from 6-12. So while a six year old fashions her knight helmet (one of the activities included), her older brother might discuss or write his opinion in response to one of the several interesting discussion topics sprinkled throughout the book. And many of the activities are enjoyable for kids of all ages, including adults. The norm with kid activity books is to state they are for kids ages 6-12, while in reality, they are geared more towards kids in the 6-9 age range. This book is full of fun activities, interesting information, and food for thought for learners of all ages! Can't wait to bake and paint the bread!

Brings you Back in Time
This book really makes you feel like you are in Europe during the Middle Ages. Although a little of the book is for younger children, most of it is appropriat for all ages. All of the crafts are well explained. The only fault I find is that the books explaination of chess is off. Other then that, it is very worth while. ... Read more

Book Description

"Here is the story of the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin during which the German Nazi Party attempted to turn the Games into a propaganda vehicle for its own political agenda.This fascinating book, based on an exhibit mounted by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, tells the story of those infamous Olympics.Profiled are the organizers, the politicians, and most important, the athletes: those who boycotted the games, those who were banned from participating, and those who competed.All these riveting tales are vividly recounted by Susan Bachrach, author of Tell Them We Remember.Using intriguing sidebars and evocative photographs, she brings this iconic event to life in a book that not only will be read avidly this summer as the 2000 Olympic Games take place, but also for years to come." ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Nazi Olymics
The book I read on the Holocaust was called The Nazi Olympics: Berlin 1936 by Susan D. Bachrach. This book is about the Olympics held by the Nazis. In this book, it tells about the steps Nazis took to hold the Olympics. It also tells you where exactly the Olympics were held. This book is not a book that actually tells a story, it is a factual book that tells facts and gives you images to describe the facts. Adolf Hitler was head of Germany's Government. In 1931, Berlin was chosen as the site of the 1936 Summer Games. After World War I, Hitler and the Nazi promised a "new Germany" that would give to those many Germans who were fearful to the future. Soon Germany was turned into a police state for "Aryans only". As the year of 1936 came closer and closer with the Olympics, people questioned whether the Olympics should be held in a country whose ideology ran counter to the ideals that inspired to the Games. Many participants questioned the same thing.

Absolutely wonderful!
This large and attractive book tells the story of the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin. Many Americans have heard of them, though their knowledge is limited to the fact that Jesse Owens, an African-American, won four gold medals, humiliating Adolf Hitler. This book tells the story of those Olympics from the choice of venue in 1931, through the rise of Hitler and National Socialism, the Nazi racial policies, the movement to boycott the games, the Olympics themselves, and finally on to the aftermath of the games and the Holocaust. Following the texts are some wonderful appendices on the chronology of the games, statistics on the 1896-1936 Olympics, and a list of nations participating in the 1936 Olympics. But don't stop there! After the index is collection of in-color reproductions of posters and artwork connected with the 1936 Olympics.

This book is absolutely wonderful! It covers everything you ever wanted to know about the 1936 Olympics, and even quite a few things you never would have thought to ask. Although this book is placed under Ages 9-12 category, it is very informative, and a must-read for anyone who wants to understand those games. I highly recommend this book!

High quality writing, graphics and layout
The most striking feature about The Nazi Olypmics is the layout. Photos from the Library of Congress, National Holocaust museum, and a variety of personal and corporate collections are nicely arranged. The illustrations emphasize that Nazi propaganda convinced participating countries that the 1936 Olympic Games were going to adhere to the Olympic code and be inclusive of all peoples and faiths. Magazine covers, newspaper headlines, political cartoons, and pictures of segregated Nazi and Jewish sports clubs reinforce the point that Nazi ideology was (and still is) directly opposite the Olympic code, in spite of Hilter's assurances to the contrary.
Occasionally, the graphics take over and result in a two page spread of captioned photos that detract from the text but in most cases, the captions are brief or enclosed in a separate boxed section of information. The writing is clear, but the subject matter is recommended for grades 6 and up. Rachbach places the Olympics in perspective of the political upheaval and the Nazi dictatorship that ensued, rather than relating just a history of the Olympics, or a rundown on record breakers and medallists (these details are included, but always admirably within the historical context).
Rachbach not only focuses on the prejudice in Germany; she also informs the reader of the racism against African-Americans and anti-Semitism on the homefront. The coverage of boycotts (both potential and realized) of athletes and countries is excellent. The author notes the positives that came out of the Olympic games, such as the new record set by Jesse Owens, and the quality of the athletic facilities in Berlin.
Two appendices include a list of locations of the summer games from 1896-1936, and a list of participating countries in the 1936 Berlin games. The chronology, index, and suggestions for further reading were excellent. Although published to capture the audience of the 2000 Games, the 1936 Games are an interesting topic and will be a good resource for students studying the Holocaust who want to go beyond concentration camps and battles, or a tool for teaching about anti-Semitism and other prejudices. ... Read more

Book Description

New Look! Relaunched with new jackets and 8 pages of new text!

Here is a spectacular and informative guide to the fascinating story of ancient Rome. Superb color photographs of Roman armor, tools, jewelry and more give the reader a unique "eyewitness" insight into the history of the Roman Empire.See the sword of Tiberius, a gladiator's helmet and shield, the contents of a Roman burial urn, real food cooked from Roman recipes, marbles Roman children played with, and inside the colosseum.Learn how the Romans built roads, why the baths were so popular, how Roman physicians healed the sick, why the army was so efficient, and how wine was made.Discover how sea battles were staged in the colosseum, what Roman children learned at school, how Roman society was organized, and much, much, more. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great Introduction to the world of Ancient Rome
Being a bit of a fan of the Roman Empire, I had taken a look at this book and may I say that it was very good, for a beginners book. The photography was amazing and it was chock full of info for those who had not encountered Roman history before.

Really reccomended.

Introduce your children to REAL history
DK eyewitness books are some of the greatest non-fiction books around. The distinctive white background and high-quality photography gives this book an edge over any other nonfiction picture book. And -- these pictures are real! They're beautiful museum-quality photos of all things related to ancient Rome, accompanied by informative captions and text.

Learn about life in Rome, the slaves and emperors who lived there, and SEE the objects they used everyday. If you know someone (young or old) who is fascinated by ancient Rome, then you must introduce them to this book!

Fantastic Photography Brings Ancient Rome to Life!
This is an outstanding book to add to your classroom or homeschooling library. If you don't live near the British Museum or Museum of London, then this book is the next best thing! See a Roman gladius (sword) and gold and silver scabbards. Examine a Roman soldier's armor and impedimenta (baggage). Find out what life was like for women and children. There are photographs of actual children's toys, gladiatorial helmets, chariots, theater masks, even medical instruments and leather sandals.

The photography in this book is fabulous. Students can use this book to get ideas for reports or designing models. The pictures are bright and beautiful and really make the ancient Roman culture come to life! ... Read more

Book Description

New Look! Relaunched with new jackets and 8 pages of new text!

Here is a spectacular and informative guide to the glories of ancient Greece. Superb color photographs of armor, jewelry, temples and much more offer a unique "eyewitness" view of the history, daily life, beliefs and achievements of the ancient Greek civilization.See the golden mask of Agamemnon, the luxurious palaces of Crete, an armed hoplite ready to do battle, the Parthenon Frieze, what a Greek family wore, and what the inside of a Greek farmhouse looked like.Learn how Greek athletes did the long jump, how Odysseus escaped from the cave of the Cyclops, how to play the Greek game of kottabos, who discovered Troy, and why Socrates drank hemlock.Discover the origins of the Hippocratic oath, what toys Greek children played with, the layout of a typical Greek home, the range of the conquests of Alexander the Great, who the Greek gods were, and much, much more! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Enjoy the archeological treasures of Ancient Greece
When I saw all the amazing photographs in the DK Travel Guide to Greece I figured their book on "Ancient Greece" would be equally impressive and I was correct. This book consists of a series of 2-page spreads dealing with various topics from Minoan civilization to Alexander and the Hellenistic age. Each spread has a basic paragraph of text from author Anne Pearson and then the rest is devoted to color photographs of various archeological treasures (or contemporary recreations) and informative captions. You will see dozens of examples of statutes and friezes, pottery and art of mythological figures taken from pots, many of which I have never seen before although I am have been actively looking for quite some time now because of a mythology course I am teaching. There are also contemporary photographs of historic ruins scattered throughout the book and recreations of Greek clothes, hair dressings, meals, and other aspects of daily life.

Readers young and old alike will find this book a great supplemental work whether they are reading a World History textbook or Homer's "Iliad." Certainly what you see within these pages will help you create more realistic images in your minds eyes when you read about the golden age in Athens, the ancient Olympic games, or the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. "The Los Angeles Times Book Review" described these Eyewitness Books as being "Like a mini-museum between the covers of a book," and that is certainly the case. Even better, the items pictured come from museums around the world, from the British Museum and the National Gallery to the Vatican and the Delphi Museum. I am planning a trip to Greece early next year and this book has certain raised my expectations for what I can hope to see in the various museums I intend to visit in Athens, Delphi, Mycenea, et al. I have particularly enjoyed seeing the ancient myths I have been teaching represented on urns and pots, several choice examples of which are pictured herein.

Vivid Photographs!
The best part of this book is the photographs. They are plentiful, taking up as much room as the print, and useful, too. They help you to see which of the styles of architecture is which, the layout of a Greek home, and many other things that would be hard to visualize if told only in words. This is a convenient book to have at home -as are the other eyewitness books; a quick reference, and also a plain fun read. Though it is supposed to be for children aged 9 to 12, I think many teens would enjoy this book. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Fascinating, accurate, well-written...and kids love it!
Beautifully and honestly presented, "Anastasia's Album" tells the story of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nicolaievna Romanova. It offers a delightful glimpse of life in Imperial Russia, before and during its collapse, enhanced by photographs from the Romanov family albums and quotes from the family's letters and diaries. "Anastasia's Album" covers Anastasia's life from birth up to the family's imprisonment. It very tastefully tells of the family's tragic end and also has an epilogue that addresses the Anna Anderson controversy and subsequent films, setting the reader straight on the historical truth.

One of the greatest things about "Anastasia's Album" is how children absolutely love it! I teach elementary school, and the book has been a favorite among my students every year. It has turned several of my students on to history, and many of them did their own Russian history research after starting with "Anastasia's Album."

In all, this is a fantastic book, and Shelley Tanaka did the world a great service in writing it! "Anastasia's Album" should be in every school library and is a must-read for history buffs of all ages.

I Loved It!!!!!!
It was the best Anastasia book I've read! I loved all the pictures and all the information! AWESOME BOOK!!!!

The life of a princess
I know that this is a children's book, but I think it is also an interesting book for adults. It includes many photos of Anastasia's family.

What I find is special about this book, is that it describes the world that the Tsar's children grew up in. The children had it all: their parents loved their five children, and Tsar Nicholas was able to give them all they wanted. Anastasia and her siblings were not confronted with the injustice that took place outside the palace walls.

The revolution changed it all though, and it is sad to see the photos and read the story of how their lives ended.

Very Sweet
I loved this book. I did wish it was longer, with more pictures.
Also more quotes from Anastasia herself, not just the author's
words.

Nice
It's a nice book, with excerpts of letters, and many photographs; although geared towards children, I at sixteen found it adorable. Although when you look at it, it's sad--how an innocent girl, caught up in politics, was shot. It's a nice look into the "eyes" of Anastasia, and I bet 'Shvyzbik' would be pleased. ... Read more

Book Description

She was a queen whose strong will, shrewd diplomacy, religious tolerance and great love for her subjects won the hearts of her people and the admiration of her enemies.

Elizabeth was born into an age of religious strife, in which plots and factions were everywhere and private beliefs could be punished by death. When she became queen, her counselors urged her to marry quickly and turn the responsibilities of governing over to her husband, But she outwitted them by stalling, changing her mind; and playing one side against another, as she steered her country to the glorious era of peace and security that would be called the Elizabethan Age.

Elizabeth's forceful personality, colorful court, and devoted subjects come vividly to life in this stellar picture-book biography. When it was first published, Good Queen Bess was named a Notable Book in the Field of Social Studies, an American Library Association Notable Book, a Booklist Editors' Choice, an American Bookseller Pick of the Lists, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book, and an IRA Teachers' Choice.

In this welcome reissue, celebrated author and illustrator Diane Stanley and her husband, Peter Vennema, paint an impressive portrait of the remarkable queen who loved her people so dearly and ruled them so well.

Reviews (5)

Great overview for young people of Queen Elizabeth's life
Diane Stanley's biography of Queen Elizabeth I of England follows the great Queen's life from her father's divorce of Catherine of Aragon, to Elizabeth's death in 1603. Without bogging down in the details of Elizabeth's seventy years, Stanley has created a broad look at the important events in the Queen's life.

Stanley's artwork accurately shows the clothing and styles of the time. Anyone familiar with the portraits of the various members of the royal family will easily recognize them in Stanley's illustrations.

Stanley does an excellent job of taking two very complicated but highly significant subjects, the formation of the Church of England and why Henry VIII desperately wanted a son, and explaining them in a simple enough manner that someone with little or no historical background can understand them. Children will be able to read this biography without becoming lost in the multitude of people in Elizabeth's life, or confused about the meaning of the important events.

Beautiful, historical and perfect for kids
Like all the Diane Stanley books that we have my children and I loved this one. The illustrations are colorful and very fitting for the time. I have always been interested in history and have searched for books that my girls can relate to. The story of Queen Elizabeth is something all children should be familiar with. I think Ms. Stanley has a wonderful way of making history interesting for young readers.

Enchanting Start to a Lifetime Love of History
I first read this book when I was in third grade and I must have checked it out from the library 100 more times. I was fascinated by the beautiful illustrations and by the true story of Elizabeth I. It really got me into history. Now I read 800+ page books about Tudor history and I can't help but think back to the days when i used to recreate the illusrations using my own crayons and muse over every sentence in the book. Starts a lifetime love of history, and for me, an obession with the Tudors. The illustrations are perfect and the content isn't too dumbed down, but it isn't too hard. Recommended for any child who ever wanted to be a princess or ever showed any interest in history.

Literally changed my life
When I was seven years old my mother gave me this book for Christmas. That was nearly nine years ago and I've since become an Elizabethan "buff" I read everything on her I can get my hands on. This is a wonderful book for any kid who has ever shown an intrest in history or being a queen or a king. Superbly adapted for the younger set this well written and engagingly illuatrated book on Elizabeth I's life is historically acurate. And for me anyway what looks like a life long fascination.

This book should be in print!
Many texts used in the Children's Literature classes I have been taking refer to this book. I had to borrow it from my professor because I couldn't even get it from the library. It is a wonderful book and I want to add it to my library. Queen Elizabeth I is made very real for young readers in Diane Stanley's work. I hope to see it on the list of reprints soon. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Roman Inquirer
This book imitates the typical newspaper format. An index indicates the various events that were pivotal for the development of Roman culture and government.

The events portion is set up chronologically, but the other sections cover societal topics such as sports, political life, women's pages, food pages.

The graphics are colorful and include illustrations, charts, and maps in imitation of modern newspapers and magazines.

It was interesting to us and it is our belief that the similarity to modern print media will intrigue students.

Wanted to like it more than I did
This thin book is certainly very attractive with its many graphics and easygoing style and probably in the end does stimulate interest for younger readers to try to find out more. It would have been nice however if some controversial conclusions about Roman history were not presented as fact. For example, it is not universally agreed that Romulus was an historical person or that 753 BC is the actual date of the founding of the city. While I fully realize that the conceit of the book is that it is supposed to be a view of the world as the Romans themselves saw it, that does not excuse giving wrong information. Anyway, the Romans certainly did not use the term BC which is freely used here. And these are not the only cases. It would have been nice if the Colosseum were also given its proper name for example, the Flavian Amphitheater. It is surprising to see Diocletian criticized for dividing the empire as this is not universally considered harmful by historians. And so on. I'm not entirely sure I agree with the ordering of the book either. Initially it goes in chronological order and then this is totally abandoned as one skips ahead to Constantine, then back to Vespasian, forward to Hadrian, etc. Overall, the book is worth buying, but an annotated guide to go with it would be quite helpful. ... Read more

Book Description

Parades, gladiator games, tunic weaving, and coin making!

Anything can happen when you spend the day in ancient Rome!

Find out what life was like almost two thousand years ago during the height of the Roman Empire. As Rome celebrates its annual Games, you'll spend the day with a family, just back from their own summer vacation. Join ten-year-old Marcus for the fabulous parade and the athletes' contest in the Colosseum. Enjoy a pantomime at the theater with his twelve-year-old sister Julia, and watch their father, Senator Julius, as he speaks in the city's forum. Top the day off with an exciting chariot race at the circus. Celebrate the history of ancient Rome with creative and fun-filled activities! Turn an ordinary sheet into a Roman toga. Learn to write in Latin. Build a legionnaire's helmet and shield, design a decorative mosaic with beans, or draw a sundial that really works! Then, when your day in Rome is through, make your own emperor's feast to share with your family and friends. ... Read more

Book Description

In this superbly illustrated volume, Athens and Rome, the two greatest cities of antiquity, spring to life through the masterful pen of Peter Connolly. For the first time ever, all the evidence has been painstakingly pieced together to reconstruct the architectural wonders of these mighty civilizations. By re-creating their public buildings, their temples, shops, and houses, Connolly reveals every aspect of a person's life in glorious detail, including religion, food, drama, games, and the baths.

The first part of The Ancient City covers the development of Athens in the hundred years following the Persian Wars, which began in the 4th century B.C. These chapters encompass the Golden Years of Athens; the establishment of democracy; the building of the Parthenon, the Erechtheum, and the municipal buildings of the Agora; a typical Athenian workday; and the construction of the Long Walls.

Part II examines the development of Rome in the hundred years from Nero (emperor of Rome from A.D. 54 to 68) to Hadrian (emperor of Rome from A.D. 117 to 138)--the great building period of Rome. Visit Nero's Golden Palace and the buildings subsequently built over it, the Colosseum, the Flavian Palace, the Baths of Trajan, the Temple of Venus and Roma, as well as other buildings such as the Circus Maximus, the Theatre of Marcellus, and Trajan's Forum and Market.

In addition to reading about the great monuments and moments of classical Greece and Rome, readers learn about a typical day in the life of an Athenian and a Roman. They read about--and see--the houses people inhabited; attend 5-day festivals and go to the theatre; fight great battles and witness the birth of Rome's navy; visit temples and spend a day at the races. The fascinating artwork and vivid descriptions provide a window into the great history of these two extraordinary cities and civilizations.

The Ancient City is the crowning achievement of Peter Connolly's distinguished career. His illustrations and reconstructions have a unique authority, providing the starting point for a fascinating exploration of these cities and the lives of the people who inhabited them. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Superb introductory text .
I wanted a basic overview text on Greek and Roman civilizations. Luckily I stumbled upon this book by Connolly and Dodge. The book is terrific. The layout is excellent. The writing is succinct and the text moves along smoothly. I now have a basic knowledge of Greek and Roman eras. I got a lot more out of this book by also reading Edith Hamilton's The Greek Way. However, I must confess, this book is far more interesting and keeps one glued. A joy to read. Very highly recommended.

Good News
The Ancient City: LIfe in Classical Athens and Rome is a good book because it has a good description of the two civilizations. Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece are two different periods, and the book divides the two with clarity and nice colorfull pictures. It will give you good information that you can't find in a encyclopedia.

A Gorgeous and Fascinating book
Having returned from my first visit to Rome I was looking for answers to many questions about how the Coloseum was built used. The 27 pages here devoted to the Colosseum are far more informative than other books more specifically focused on the subject. The architectural illustrations throughout are outstanding.

Many other aspects of daily life, food, plumbing, politics, marriage customs (Ancient Athens had wedding cakes), idioms (the origin of "deus ex machina"), philosophy and the arts are richly told and illustrated.

We have been more strongly influenced by Athenian and Roman culture than we usually realize.

Revelatory
Ah, so that's what it looked like; so that's where it fits! Visitors (in mind or fact) to the Cradle of Democracy or The Eternal City can consult Connolly's stunning views to great advantage in developing an historical mind's eye for place, and understanding how settings reflect and shape events. Although the glossy book is a bit oversize for travelers, it's a fabulous companion to history books (or modern novels and mysteries set in the Classical World, like those of Renault, McCullough, Saylor, or Davis!). The outstanding feature is Connolly's illustrations, which include both sweeping and minutely detailed views of cityscapes, and detail, cut-away, and exploded views of structures, often showing their original decorative colors. Also included by way of both illustration and documentation are a number of topographic models that provide the natural settings; building plans; ancient paintings and figured vases; several charts; and many photographs and drawings of remnants and artifacts. With all these aids you can think yourself far into the city.

A really surprising amount of basic knowledge and trivia is presented graphically and in concise sections of text. The details are an utterly fascinating introduction to life and belief in Greek and Roman cities, and delve well below the level of the well-known archons and emperors. This results in a great conjunction between history and archaeology. Organization is largely topical for each city, Athens and Rome: brief political history, then material underpinnings of work, water, and daily life, then religion, and entertainments. Throughout, the authors illustrate and discuss successive changes to the fabric of each city, which help to make sense of the tattered bits and pieces you see today. Although the present state of ruins, especially Roman, is often shown in photographs, I missed maps or overlays showing where the standing bits fit. A true fault is that maps and plans lack scales and compass arrows for orientation.

An excellent choice
This is a really good book, with a lot of great artworks and a lot of information. It covers all aspects of ancient life, from religion to espectacles, without forgetting things like government or clothing.

However, the economy is almost forgotten. The book mentions the cost of an acueduct, but without comparing it to others or telling how much money did people have or how did they spend it.

In short, a book for everyone who would like to know more about life in Athens or Rome. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Eyewitness Viking
This provided all the information needed for a school report.

excellent book
This is an excellent source for basic information about the Vikings. It provides pictures of actual artifacts from the Viking Age, as well as photos of reenactors dressed in period clothing. A very informative book, for children and adults alike! ... Read more

Book Description

One attribute of a great city is that it belongs to the world, not just to its inhabitants. This is especially true of Paris: beautiful, romantic, enchanting and built to a human scale. Here, all in walking distance, are Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Latin Quarter, the Luxembourg Gardens, the Tomb of Napoleon, the Picasso Museum, and, towering over all, the Eiffel Tower, symbol of Paris and France.

This beautifully illustrated volume is made up of a series of exciting color spreads showing the history of this great city. Each two-page spread has a map and a time-line. Paintings and illustrations bring each era to life: the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Revolution and the Age of Napoleon, and Haussmann’s reconstruction of Paris in the late 19th century. Finally, there is Paris changed by two World Wars and as it is today at the beginning of the 21st century – a place of tradition, avant-garde architecture, immigrants, and still some of the most beautiful gardens in the world.
... Read more

Book Description

A Complete Resource That Helps Kids LearnAbout this Fascinating Civilization‹IncludesBackground Information, a Play, Writing and Word Study Activities, Art Projects,and a Full Color Poster
Includes a Full-color Poster!
From early Roman history and givernment to Daily life in ancient Rome, the activities in this rich resource will help students explore all the aspects of this fascinating civilization. Students' understanding will grow as they participate in a read-aloud play about Julius Caeser, construct models of Roman mansions and more. Also features a full-color poster of ancient Rome. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Nice supplement
Altman and Lechner have created a neat supplement for elementary school students. I was particularly pleased with the range of topics covered. They hit all the important highlights covered in elementary Roman history, from architecture and notable emperors to specific aspects of Roman life such as clothing, eating and Roman numerals. We use Veritas Press history and this just tied right in each week. I suspect in fact that my second grader will remember more from this book than from the more in depth historical texts that we read. He frequently picks this up and reviews Roman Roads, the Praetorian Guard and Nero (his favorite topics anyway). Good for memorizing to go with the Veritas Press cards; the poems provide more than two facts each! ... Read more