Reviews (5)

Young people need modern heroes - Robert Ballard is real.
Robert Ballard is one of the few genuine adventurer - hero models available to young people of the 21st Century. He is is incapable of being boring. He's somehow interesting even when he's talking about a can of paint. He has manifold unquestioned achievements, both scientific and spectacular in the public eye. His flair for photography and for commissioning or selecting exciting paintings of underwater scenes is unparalleled. His feeling for developing memorable themes, in this case lost ships, is gripping for both adults who allow their imaginations to seized by large events effectively told, as well as children.

At times one hears unjustified carping from scientists at Ballard's role as a popularizer. At others, not unreasonable arguments are raised that some of his books don't offer enough credit to others. I have known Ballard from the time of his PhD dissertation at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and onwards. I prefer to interpret Ballard's telling of major stories with simplifications as part of his ability to reach and affect large audiences, including young people who have become one of his major targets and goals in later life. Kids simply don't have the life experience and maturity to weigh all nuances of complex phenomena like scientific and exploration discovery.

Ballard has made extraordinary efforts with his Jason outreach programs to enliven science education for school children, facilitating realtime "exploration" opportunities to hundreds of thousands of young people. Ballard has a sense of personal ethics (refreshing in a "me" generation), being reluctant, for example, to allow souvenirs to be retrieved from the Titanic and other wrecks. Even though one can argue scientific and other value for such retrieval, I attribute to him sense of purpose and principle along with other unusual qualities as a person and author.

A look at lost liners you never even knew about
I accidentally ordered this children's book from my son's school book fair, but I really love it. I wanted the book Lost Liners also by Bob Ballard. The paintings in Ghost Liners are wonderful and the narrative is interesting and also sad at times. I didn't even know about many of the other sea disasters. My son did read the book, but I'm the one who enjoyed it the most. The haunting illustrations are, themselves, worth the price of the book.

Pretty Good Little Book
This was a pretty good little book for the money. However, it was largely a slimmed-down version of Lost Liners, which I highly recommend. Some new pictures were featured, but much of it was rehash.

Great pictures and text
Awesome pictures! Ken Marschall did a wonderful job with the illustrations, and the photographs were nice, too. The text explained clealy what had happened to each ship, and the controversy about some of them. I really learned something from this book.

EXCELLENT!!!!
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes studing TITANIC, ANDREA DORIA, LUSITANIA, THE EMPRESS OF IRELAND, OR MY PERSONAL FAVORITE, BRITTANIC. I have studyed these ships most of my life and have found this is the book the best. Dr. Ballard gives a hands on look at these ships with actual photos and paintings by the well know artist, Ken Marshall. If you are in to TITANIC and have read this book, I would recomend that you purchace TITANIC: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY by Don Lynch for the most complete info and photos ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Toy with history.
This treasure chest contained a surprising array of information and activities. My husband and I loved playing "King's Table" so much, we are now making our own board to go with the pieces. A good interactive introduction to Norse culture. Lynn Hughes' review of this product was very descriptive and accurate.

Viking treasures - game, ship, runes, history, and more!
This sturdy box comes with its own key and contains a delightful variety of Viking information and paraphernalia. There is a light cardboard Viking ship to assemble, a Hnefatafl game (a good board game for 2) with plastic pieces based on the Lewis chessmen, a sundial that needs to be calibrated for your location (directions included), cardboard runes and information about their use in divination, 2 posters (1 each on history and on mythology), and a small book that gives a good introduction to the Viking world. It's more than one rainy day's fun and should appeal to a wide age range. The board game is an excellent strategy game for all ages through adult and will be played long after the ship has disintegrated and the posters have lost their novelty. ... Read more

Reviews (141)

The opportunity of her life turns into a nightmare.
Thirteen-year-old Margaret, the fictional passenger that is the "writer" of the "diary" that makes up this book, shouldn't have even been on the Titanic. By a twist of fate that she interprets as good fortune, the orphan, who has been living at an orphanage since her mother died and her brother decided he couldn't care for her properly, gets a job with a wealthy American woman, Mrs. Carstairs. The job is fairly simple: Margaret just has to keep Mrs. Carstairs company during her return voyage to New York, and it comes with a ticket to America. Margaret takes the job eagerly: her brother now is living and working in America, able to support her, and has been saving up for a ticket for her for awhile. Now she can join him immediatley. But Mrs. Carstairs is returning to America on the Titanic. And we all know that voyage is doomed to end of tragedy. So Margaret unknowingly heads off into a disaster. We see through her eyes how the luxuries of first class would appear to a child who lived in poverty all of her life. And of course, the disaster plays a large role in the story as well. I highly reccomend this to fans of the Dear America series, historical fiction, and of course, the Titanic!

Voyage on the Great Titanic - Story of a British Girl
This book is a diary of a 13 year old British girl named Margaret Ann Brady. After her parents died when she was young, she was left in the orphanage by her brother, William. Then William went to America to earn money. With the support from Sister Catherine, a nun who was very closed to her, Margaret grew up to be a fine young woman. When she was thirteen, she met an American women named Mrs. Carstairs, who asked Margaret to be her companion her voyage to the America on a ship called the RMS Titanic. So they left together to experience the biggest moment in her life.

In the ship, she met many upper class people, especially Mrs. Carstairs friends. She was in first class and experienced a lot of things that upper class people do. She became friends with a ship steward named Robert. She had a lot of fun on the Titanic. But on the night of April 14, 1912, things start to going wrong. Titanic hit the big iceberg and ship had big gouge down her side. Titanic started to sink in the middle of the ocean. Titanic sent message to other ships for help, but they were too far away. Life boats were taken out and first class women and children boarded them. Margaret was in first class but she stayed to find Robert. After she met Robert, they said good bye to each other because Robert wanted to rescue Margaret. Then Margaret got on a life boat and she was rescued. Then next day, all the life boats were met by a ship called Carpathia and they were saved. More than 2,000 passengers, crew members, and others died from it, and only 700 people survived. When she arrived to New York, Margaret found her brother and, finally she was safe.

In this book, Margaret described her feelings about her life and on the Titanic. She was an extremely smart and so clever that she thought like an adult even though she is only thirteen. She noticed almost everything about what happened the Titanic. She wrote about everything that she saw and experienced on the Titanic. This journal has a lot of information about the Titanic and how it felt to survive such a disaster. The good thing about this book is that you can actually experience the huge Titanic known as "unsinkable" from the point of view of a young person. I recommend this book to students who are studying Titanic. It might be a little bit hard for some people because it has many words that British people use.

Voyage on the Great Titanic: The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady
Voyage on the Great Titanic: The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady (Dear America)
By: Ellen Emerson White

If you enjoyed the story of the Great RMS Titanic, have you ever wondered what the story was about the other survivors? Well, Margaret Ann Brady was one of the survivors on that tragic voyage. In the book, Voyage on the Great Titanic: The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady, Margaret is an orphan who was unexpectedly invited for the ship's first sail to America by a rich American lady, Mrs. Carstairs.
During her voyage to America, Margaret meets a steward, Robert Browning, which she becomes terribly fond of. Throughout her voyage, she is very interested in Robert, as well as he is of her. The two talk to each other often and shortly fall in love with each other. But at one point of the story, they both lose each other on a very terrible evening. Read this book to find out the story of Margaret Ann Brady.
I thought that this book was a great choice and a very interesting book to read. Learning about the Titanic through another person's point of view can be a very interesting part of reading a book. If you like reading historical fiction books, then Voyage on the Great Titanic: The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady by Ellen Emerson White is the book for you.

Voyage on the Great Titanic: The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady
If you enjoyed the story of the Great RMS Titanic, have you ever wondered what the story was behind the other survivors on the voyage? Well, Margaret Ann Brady was one of the people who survived that tragic voyage. In the book, Voyage on the Great Titanic: The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady, Margaret is an orphan who was unexpectedly invited for the ship's first sail to America in 1912 by a rich American lady, Mrs. Carstairs.
During her voyage, Margaret meets a steward, Robert Browning, which she becomes terribly fond of. Through her voyage, Margaret is very interested in Robert, as well as he is of her. The two talk very often and shortly fall in love with each other. But during one night, they lose each other. Read the book to find out the tragic story of Margaret Ann Brady.
This book is a great choice and an interesting book to read. Learning the Titanic's voyage from another person's point of view can be an interesting part of a book. If you like reading historical fiction books, then Voyage on the Great Titanic: The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady is the book for you. Voyage on the Great Titanic: The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady by Ellen Emerson White.

A Touching story
I saw this book in the Library and picked it out. i'm glad i di it was great. It touched me to the point i was crying, laughing and even got mad with the girl in the story. I felt like i was right on the ship! its worth it to get and read!!!! I am now reaading and buying the entire series. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Everything You Need to Know About World History
This book, though it is suggested reading for 4th to 6th graders, was helpful to me. Not only am I an adult, I am in the process of getting certified to teach high school social studies. It provided me the essentials that I must cover for any class (other than at the college level). The page layout is excellent; the variety in print type and color as well as maps and pictures made it a"fun" reading and learning experience. I highly recommend it for students, parents and social studies teachers. ... Read more

Book Description

Discover the art of the Northern and Italian Renaissance, from the 14th to the 16th century.

Here is a beautiful, thought-provoking and highly informative guide to understanding the Renaissance. Superb color reproductions of paintings, sculptures and sketches, clear artworks and authoritative text from an established art historian offer a fresh "eyewitness" insight into appreciation of the momentous and influential art of the Renaissance era. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great book, terrific value!
This high quality, hardcover art history book discusses various aspects of the northern and Italian Renaissance. It features countless reproductions of paintings, drawings, and sculptures by virtually every Renaissance artist you can imagine. Also included are interesting historical information and little-known facts about some of the best-known works of art. Suitable for use in study by art teachers and art enthusiasts alike. Looking through this book is like walking through several Italian and French art galleries! Exceptional value! ... Read more

Book Description

From crusades to world wars, from ancient monuments to bloody revolutions, here is a fascinating tour of the historical events that have helped shape the world today. How did the ancient Egyptians build the Great Pyramid? How did Alexander the Great conquer so much of the world? How did the Vikings accidentally discover North America? Who led the "reign of terror" in the French revolution? Who stormed the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg? Who was Lawrence of Arabia? When was communism born? When did Montezuma rule? When was the Normandy invasion? With perspective, scope, and clarity to great events in history, this book answers these questions and many, many more. Great Events that Changed the World shows children the history of our amazing world in easy-to-follow panoramic tableaux and maps. Filled with superbly detailed artwork and exciting text, this is a valuable and enjoyable source book for the entire family. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Incredible Illustration & History made easier to understand!
This is an incredible book!!! The illustrations are wonderful, of course, DK. It describes everything from the Egyptians to WW II very thoroughly. I recommend this book to all ages, and especially to people who like history, but don't want a too detailed version of it. This fantastic book puts all important events of history together, and makes an interesting "walkthrough" out of it. The thing that impressed me most was a map of all the places that were in Alexander the Great's journey, and picture next to each location. So, if you want a book with every imporatnt bit of history in it, but not too long, get this marvellous book. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Quietly Riveting, Sad But Wonderful Magic
This is a second-hand tale, which is as it should be, as Joe Two Trees did not want his life-story lost, and he did not want the Algonquin tradition of story-telling lost, either. For those of you who liked "Tatham Mound" by Piers Anthony, you'll like this one. If you like this one, "Tatham Mound" becomes suggested reading.

Theodore Kazimiroff tells us the story that his father told him, which was the story that Joe Two Trees told him. The first few chapters tell of how Theodore's father, as a boy, explored the rural areas around New York in 1924, and stumbled across a true treasure. He was looking for Native American artifacts, and found instead a friend and a living repository of Native American history: Joe Two Trees. These early, preliminary chapters are fine, but I would have been disappointed if the entire book followed this course. It didn't.

After the story of the boy meeting the Indian, the book moves on to give us Theodore's recounting of his father's recounting of the recounting of Joe Two Tree's life. From that point on, the reader will find his/her eyes glued to the book. Two Trees was born in 1840 to a small clan of Algonquins in the area of the Hudson River near New York City. By the time he was fifteen, every Indian he knew was dead or vanished. He believed that he was the last Native American left, period. He set off into the White Man's world to avoid the terrible loneliness of his solitude, and gradually becomes Joe Two Trees.

His trek through the ugliness and beauty of the new world being created by the White Man is a quiet adventure that takes the reader along and leaves one feeling that the adventure was actually shared. There is kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, success and triumph, and a gradual process of Joe Two Trees realizing that he was destined to be "The Last Algonquin" and did not belong in the White Man's world. He goes from being "Two Trees" to "Joe Two Trees" and back to "Two Trees", known as Joe by the boy who was the author's father.

What might be most surprising is the quality of writing in this book, which is nearly flawless from a writer who did not write anything else, at least that I could find. Perhaps the purity of his writing was driven by the quality of this remarkable tale. Please keep the tradition alive by reading it, and by passing it on.

An Insightful & Fascinating "Hand-Me Down" Story
This is a must read, especially for those of us raised in the Pelham Bay section of Bronx. The tale of The Last Algonquin is inspiring and heartwarming. And, I hope that Mr. Kazimiroff realizes that he has given The Bronx, the Algonquin Indians and his father the immortality they truly deserve.
Remember as long as someone tells( hears or reads) this tale, the story of Joe Two Trees will continue to live on among the rocks and trees of Pelham Bay Park.

A beautiful story...
Joe Two Trees is the last of his tribe. New York in the early twentieth century is not for him. Or is it? As a native New Yorker with a passion for the past, I loved this beautiful story. Whenever I return home, I can no longer visit the Bronx (especially Pelham Bay) without thinking of Joe and his relationship with Theodore Kazimoroff's father. The writing is lovely, and the story evokes all sorts of feelings at so many levels. It was my Aunt, a former teacher, who told me that I should read this book. It has become one of those novels that I recommend to others regularly.

Sublime
Some people talk about spirit like it is taught in "Indian 101", but you can experience something very soulful and ancient in the words and earth here.

A sad and touching tale
The Last Algonquin is a sad but heartwarming story about a man and his attempts to come to grips with his place in the world. The fact that this man, Joe Two Trees, is the last of his tribe of the Algonquin's makes his journey that much harder and more interesting. If you are looking for an official history of the American Indians, this isn't the book for you. However, if you are looking for a deep and touching story of one American Indian, and what we as a nation have lost by ignoring the heritage of American Indians, then you will enjoy this book. Mr. Kazimiroff has done an excellent job of preserving the story given to him by his father and keeping the memory of Joe Two Trees and the Algonquin Indians alive. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The publication of this book in 1994 was a milestone in the field of publishing for children and young adults. Working with an international team of historians, the renowned nonfiction publisher Dorling Kindersley used their extensive image library to create a visual chronology of world history, laden with photographs of real artifacts, tools, and art from around the globe, as well as illustrations and photographs of the people who lived in each era.

Summarizing the entire history of civilization seems a daunting task, but the organizational work here is exemplary. Each chapter covers a historical period from several centuries in the earliest times to a 25-year span in recent times. Beginning with a world map, each chapter offers a time line and a double-page spread identifying the major events and developments within five geographic areas: Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania. More specific discussions for these geographic areas follow, along with additional illustrations, maps, and small, specific time lines. Because of the organizational scheme using five world divisions, all areas of the world receive equal treatment. An additional 115-page reference section includes a glossary of terms and a comprehensive index. The Dorling Kindersley History of the World is a welcome addition to the family reference shelf for students from fourth grade through high school. (Ages 9 and older) ... Read more

Reviews (4)

IS THERE A BETTER BOOK THAN THIS ?!
Absolutely beautiful,comprehensive world history book - should be in EVERY classroom and home! A record of conflict of course, but chock full of the best that people have done on this planet(art,architecture,science, etc.)- inspiring and exciting. If anyone knows of a better illustrated world history book, please write me! Thank you DK - once again an incredible book.

Absolutely superb.
This is a simply marvelous book, good for all ages. (After all, I am a single adult with no children!) DK publishes a lot of "children's" books which I, as a mature, educated adult, find very useful and fascinating. This one, though, is probably the best of the lot.

DK has done it again!
DK Publishing never ceases to hold my interest with colorful and imagiantive formats, and this book is a perfect example. The full color pictures combined with intesting facts make this a great tool for any student of history. As a future teacher and history major, I highly recommend this book to students of all ages!

If you ever wondered "when was that?" you need this book!
DK has mastered the art of presenting facts in a way that mesmerizes both young and old. This book is a resource you will return to time and again. This book goes beyond most school texts by giving a side by side timeline of the entire globe on one page. Not just for kids; this book would be valuable to anyone wanting an easy to read timeline of world history. The illustrations and photographs are perfect compliments to the text. It could easily double as a coffee table book, and would make a great gift for youth and teens. ... Read more

Book Description

Winner of the first John Newbery Medal, here is Hendrik van Loon's renowned classic, updated for the twenty-first century. First published in 1921, The Story of Mankind has charmed generations of readers of all ages with its warmth, simplicity, and wisdom. Beginning with the origins of human life and sweeping forward to illuminate all of history, Hendrik van Loon's incomparable prose enlivens the characters and events of every age. His unique ability to convey history as a fascinating tale of adventure has endeared the book to countless readers and has accorded it a unique place in publishing history. This new version, which retains van Loon's original illustrations, has been brought up to date by John Merriman, professor of history at Yale University. It incorporates the most important developments of the last two decades--including space exploration, the emergence of the developing countries, the Cold War, the Internet, and the astounding advances we have witnessed in medicine and science--and looks forward into the prospect of the twenty-first century. Over 500,000 copies sold; translated into eighteen languages, the #2 best-selling nonfiction book in 1921, the year it was first published. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

My Childhood Love
All of us have that book which we remember fondly from childhood, that one book we saw in the school library which we wish were ours so we could keep it in our own private place and read over and over again. Van Loon's Story of Mankind is that book for me. Van Loon does a tremendous service to the study of history. Even though this is a childrens book Van Loon does not ignore or alter the facts of history so that he can comfort instead of educate the child who may be reading the book. And even though the book reads like one big bedtime story, Van Loon always tries to remain objective and never force his opinion on the reader. When he talks about Napolean he makes it very obvious that he does not like the man or what he stood for, but he also tells the reader that his grandfather fought alongside the man and that he(Van Loon) would have probably fought alongside him as well, that's just the kind of man Napolean was. At an age where you will believe almost anything told to you, especially by a man who has written a book, Van Loon tries to give the child both an appreciation for history and a sense of objectivity about events. This was one of the first books, if not the first book, that showed me that everything is not always black and white, good and evil, but shades and gradations of good and evil. I read this to all my nephews, and when they don't know what to read I hand them this book, hoping it will make them a wiser person for listening to Van Loon's lessons.

An overview of all of man's history.
This is a classic history book written for children (probably ages eleven to fourteen) which can be fascinating even for adults. The book still rings true in 1999. In 1922, it won the very first Newbery Medal for best contribution to American children's literature (the Melcher family had just established the John Newbery Medal). It concentrates mostly on European history since van Loon, in the early 1920s, is attempting to explain those factors that were present in the world at that time. His son William has written several new chapters which expand this view (his father had passed away in 1944). And, I have seen editions that are furthur updated. But, the elder van Loon simply had a style of writing history that seems attractive to children. I saw a previous edition of this book by van Loon when I was a kid and always wanted to read it. I'm glad that I finally did.

Offensive But Possibly Usefull.
If you are a Jew, Islamist Christian or just somebody that appreciates accurate history and science, than this book will be offensive to you. I encourage you to read it for yourself to see what I mean, but you will not want your children to read it.

Depending on the maturity of your children, this book could be used as a tool to teach your children correctly. Here's how: get a pencil and draw a line through every sentence you disagree with. Tell you child why you have done this and let them read it. After each chapter go through the marked parts and tell them what you believe to be the truth.

A book full of poor science, history and morality.
If you are a practicing Islamist, Jew or Christian then you will not want to let your children read this book. It will offend your religious values and beliefs.

Even if you are not, be forwarned as well, because this book is also full of poor science and historical mistakes.

You should read this book before your child ever see it. Then decide for yourself.

Newbery got it wrong
I really like the selections that get the Newbery awards so it was a real dissapointment when I tried to read this book. The style of writing did not grab hold of me and I found the author's opinions annoying. Althogether a waste of money. ... Read more

Book Description

With its up to the moment content and engaging style, this major reference book is an essential resource that helps children relate today's news to the events of the past. Focusing on the who, what, when, where, and how, DK's Children's Encyclopedia of American History is published in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution to present a completely unique survey of the story of America. Featuring more than 1,000 stunning photographs, plus maps, charts, and profiles of famous Americans, this book has been painstakingly designed with a cutting edge visual style to pull in even the most reluctant readers.

A Main Selection of Children's BookoftheMonth Club ... Read more

Reviews (3)

From big news stories to struggles for peace
Beautiful photos compliment lively text to present a comprehensive guide and reference to the events and ideas which have shaped the US. From big news stories to struggles for peace over the decades, the Children's Encyclopedia Of American History packs in illustrations and complimentary text to make for a revealing, attractive reference for all ages.

Almost an Encyclopedia
If you are an environmentalist or a liberal of any strain, this book is for your kids. It is not, however, for mine. I was excited to read it because at first glance, it presents an attractive and manageable timeline of American history, complete with helpful appendices including all of the important documents that are no longer priorities in the schools. As Mr. King gets closer to current events his bias becomes more evident and more difficult to stomach. Listing all of the examples here would be impossible, but he neatly boils the Reagan era down to homelessness, the national debt and the failed War on Drugs. President George W. Bush is simply defined by the Florida recount, the "disappearing surplus," and withdrawal from Kyoto. (The War on Terror is mentioned in the "Terrorism" section and President Bush is criticized for creating additional Arab opposition by calling Iraq, Iran, and North Korea, "the Axis of Evil.") I had hoped for a fair and balanced look at American history, and this fell far short of my expectations.

History for all ages--cause for celebration!
This fantastic book on American History is called a Children's Encyclopedia, but it's really for all ages. Get it for your grandchildren and spend hours with them learning everything from obscure details to familiar events. There is so much intriguing information here, and so many new perspectives on established facts, that you will return to this book over and over to refresh your mind and encourage your imagination. You can read it cover to cover, or, as I do, dip into random pages. It is wonderful to be excited about history all over again. Required reading for every American man, woman, and child. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

AWSOME BOOK!
THIS IS A SOOOOOOOOOOO AWSOME BOOK! It helps with tons of things like Social Studies and is fun to just read around! I borowed one from my teacher and now I have one for myself!
RECOMENDED FOR ANY1! INCLUDING PEOPLE OVER 12! ... Read more