Reviews (3)

Memorable and heartbreaking...
...this is the kind of book that continues to haunt you long after you put it down. I read this book in elementary school and then stumbled across it as an adult - even re-reading it as an adult, I was shocked by the descriptions of the damage done by the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

This book is a must-read. As an American, I believe that the atom bomb was a necessary evil to stop World War II; however, as a human, I believe the atom bomb was a horrible atrocity unleashed on millions of people, including a child named Sadako whose story is poignantly told here. This book is an eye-opener, a heart-wrencher and a beautiful story.

A book everyone should read
No matter what side you are on in the debate on the use of the atomic bombs during WWII, this is a "must read". As a science teacher, I read this book to my Advanced Chemistry class at the conclusion of our nuclear chemistry unit. However, I have yet been able to read it through without crying. And I have not been alone. Sadako's story should teach us all a lesson. My students may not remember the specifics of chain reactions or nuclear decay. But I guaruntee that they will remember Sadako's story. I want them to be informed citizens who make educated choices. One thing that history has shown us is that it repeats itself. What a horrible thought.......that another little girl become a "Sadako". I would hate to think that next time her name might be an American one......It chills me to the bone.

A Wonderful Companion Book to Eleanor Coerr's Sadako
Often fiction leads us into a story and leaves us helpless to change anything. Takayuki Ishii's book takes us into the real world of Sadako Sasaki who died of leukemia years after the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. This is a well researched document, with family and classmate interviews, which sheds light on the real child whose world changed as a result of adult decisions. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is home to a statue commemorating Sadako's life. It was built by the donations solicited by her classmates. Each day children from all over the world send folded paper cranes to this statue in her memory and in the hope for world peace. It is rare for a teacher to have the opportunity to compare and contrast a fictionalized event with the non fictional and rarer, still, to then have the opportunity to construct a real life project, from classroom reading, for students which will make the voices of the children heard. I am a teacher and the children in my school, the Henry Viscardi School, forwarded their cranes to the statue. This moving experience is recorded on our school Web site (under Japanese Odyssey)and was inspired by Reverand Ishii's book. The book had been published first in Japan. Random House has now made it available in the United States and as word of its publication reaches schools and libraries, it is destined to become a "must have" for every American classroom. ... Read more

Book Description

This year-by-year account of the nations bloodiest conflict makes history come alive through eyewitness accounts, profiles of people famous and ordinary, period art, and point-of-view sidebars that highlight the differences between North and South. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

It's a really helpful book!
This awesome book gives you all the facts you need to know to do a research paper on the Civil War. I had to do a topic paper for a history class, and I chose Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. This book was the only thing I needed to get all the facts about the Emacipation Proclamation, Gettysburg Address, and more. I recommend this book to anyone.

Scholastic Encyclopedia of the Civil War
My 11 year old daughter is a Civil War buff. She says this book is "cool" because it shows actual battle photographs. ... Read more

Book Description

New York Times bestseller, now adapted for young readers, Flags of Our Fathers is the unforgettable chronicle of perhaps the most famous moment in American military history: the raising of the U.S. flag at Iwo Jima.
Here is the true story behind the immortal photograph that has come to symbolize the courage and indomitable will of America. In February 1945, American Marines plunged into the surf at Iwo Jima–and into history. Through a hail of machine-gun and mortar fire that left the beaches strewn with comrades, they battled to the island’s highest peak. And there, they raised a flag. The son of one of the flag raisers has written a powerful account of six very different men who came together in the heroic battle. ... Read more

Reviews (396)

Ordinary people doing their duty in extraordinary times
This book is easily one of the best books I ever read. I especially recommend it to anyone who is interested in wars and the men who fight them. Bradley's personal and passionate account of arguably the toughest, bloodiest, and most highly decorated battle our nation ever fought is simply remarkable.

By the end of the book you will long remember and appreciate the sacrifice and significance of the U.S. Marines' WWII Battle of Iwo Jima and the lives and deaths of the six flag raisers (Harlon Block, John Bradley, Rene Gagnon, Ira Hayes, Franklin Sousley, and Mike Strank) forever immortalized in Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal's prize-winning photo atop Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945, and in the world's largest bronze statue, the United States Marine Corps War Memorial.

Shortly after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, an e-mail I will never forget arrived at my work computer. Attached to the e-mail was an image, actually two images side-by-side. No words were needed. On one side was the Rosenthal Iwo Jima flag-raising picture, and next to it was the New York City firemen flag-raising at "Ground Zero" picture. Reading this book helped me to fully understand the old adage, "A picture is worth a thousand words."

Beyond The Photograph and Memorial...
Having only the cursory knowledge of Iwo Jima from the immortalized "photograph" and monument near Arlington National Cemetary, reading "Flags of Our Fathers" was an eye-opening experience. Born in the late 60's, I grew up in with war and its after-effects having little impact on my own personal life (somehow my immediate family escaped any time in the military). In this deeply personal account of the events surrounding Iwo Jima, James Bradley gives the reader a detailed account of the famous battle that no high school history class lesson could do justice to. From the "underground city" of Iwo to the facts surrounding the quite accidental photographic capture of the incidental second flagraising, the book is both educational and fairly quick read.

I was a little put-off early in the early stages of the book. In leading up to the actual battle, Bradley seemed to have already elevated the six flagraisers to godlike status. But having finished "Flags," one can easily forgive the author for the high reverence he holds for these individuals now knowing how each of their stories ended. Having recently visited Washington, I stopped at the US Marine Corps Memorial near the end of my trip. I did not know the names or stories of the men behind the impressive statues. Reading "Flags" made me initially regret what, at the time, had been a fairly unemotional visit to yet another DC monument. While that changed as I read "Flags" (I pulled out the photos I had taken several times while reading), I ultimately believe that the surviving flag raisers (particularly the author's father, John Bradley) would be quite happy that I did not associate them with the celluloid or bronze images that dogged them for the remainder of their lives.

It is heartening to see the success of this book. While not a scholarly historical work, Bradley has done a great service in recording these men's stories and the brave efforts of all who have ever fought for their country.

A book that is written as if you were there in the war
This book is the best world war 2 book i have ever read to date. This book takes you at an in depth look and the whole history behind the actual picture that was taken that will always be a piece of american history. The details of the battle scenes in the book can make you sick to your stomach at certain point, and even make your eyes water from reading it. This book has everything, emotion, action, and a overall great read.

A sons tribute to his father
This book is one of the best accounts of Iwo Jima that I have ever read. It tells the story as if you were there, and you feel almost sick to your stomach learning of how these poor marines were dying and yet they kept fighting on. It is about Iwo Jima but i believe it to be a tribute to John Bradley, the father of James Bradley the author. It tells the story of him and the other 5 flag raisers and what happened to them througout there lives. But to me this was the story of John and I felt that i connected with him from his earlier years as a boy through his corpsmen training throught the 7th bond collection tour. I understood John and why he never talked about his ordeal at Iwo Jima, the flag raising, and the navy cross he was awarded. If you have to read a book, read FLags of Our Fathers, its simply a great read.

An Uncommon Generation
This book is not about a battle, or the tactics used; this book is about six Marines who will forever be immortalized in the picture of the flag being raised on Iwo Jima. It tells their story of having grown up during the Great Depression were then called upon to fight facism in Europe and the Pacific. The story begins with the author's account of his own father Jack Bradley, a Corpsman serving with the Marines. Awarded the Navy Cross, the second highest honor for bravery, he never mentioned it to his family. Nor did he speak about his part in the Iwo Jima campaign. With quiet dignity he tried to live his life out in peace; this is what is truely amazing!

The book also describes the lives of the other two survivors - the other three never made it off Iwo Jima - and how they tried to deal with their new found fame.

This book speaks to the heart and every generation will be touch by this story. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great book to read in these times
After traveling to Northern Arizona last summer, I wanted to learn more about the Navajo. I found this book which tied in with my interest of WWII. It was a fast read and very informative.

One of The best books I have ever read.
First of all, I am an 8th grade student at Houghton Middle School. I read this for a book report, and I found this book fascinating, interesting, and exciting. It talks about from their roots and their culture, all the way to their finest hour at Iwo Jima and Mount Suribachi. I reccomend this book to anyone who is interested in World War 2 and the Navajo Code Talkers.

History Comes Alive!
A fascinating true story about the Navajo people, World War II, and creating and breaking codes. This book is of the sort that really makes history come alive for readers. I thoroughly enjoyed it. My husband will shortly be purchasing several copies for use in his Jeopardy Reading Tournament that he holds each year for 4th and 5th graders in the school district he is a media specialist in. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Nominated for a 1998 National Book Award for Young People's Literature, No Pretty Pictures: A Child of War is Anita Lobel's gripping memoir of surviving the Holocaust. A Caldecott-winning illustrator of such delightful picture books as OnMarket Street, it is difficult to believe Lobel endured the horrific childhood she did. From age 5 to age 10, Lobel spent what are supposed to be carefree years hiding from the Nazis, protecting her younger brother, being captured and marched from camp to camp, and surviving completely dehumanizing conditions. A terrifying story by any measure, Lobel's memoir is all the more haunting as told from the first-person, child's-eye view. Her girlhood voice tells it like it is, without irony or even complete understanding, but with matter-of-fact honesty and astonishing attention to detail. She carves vivid, enduring images into readers' minds. On hiding in the attic of the ghetto: "We were always told to be very quiet. The whispers of the trapped grown-ups sounded like the noise of insects rubbing their legs together." On being discovered while hiding in a convent: "They lined us up facing the wall. I looked at the dark red bricks in front of me and waited for the shots. When the shouting continued and the shots didn't come, I noticed my breath hanging in thin puffs in the air." On trying not to draw the attention of the Nazis: "I wanted to shrink away. To fold into a small invisible thing that had no detectable smell. No breath. No flesh. No sound."

It is a miracle that Lobel and her brother survived on their own in this world that any adult would find unbearable. Indeed, and appropriately, there are no pretty pictures here, and adults choosing to share this story with younger readers should make themselves readily available for explanations and comforting words. (The camps are full of excrement and death, all faithfully recorded in direct, unsparing language.) But this is a story that must be told, from the shocking beginning when a young girl watches the Nazis march into Krakow, to the final words of Lobel's epilogue: "My life has been good. I want more." (Ages 10 to 16)--Brangien Davis ... Read more

Reviews (27)

A Child's View of the Holocaust
When Anita Lobel wrote this memoir, she did not try to write in a sopisticated "literary" style. She didn't try to "doctor" the events with years of hindsight and thinking. Instead, she wrote "No Pretty Pictures" with the clarity and simplicity and paradoxical depth of a child's mind. Anita's story begins in Krakow, Poland, where she is born into a middle class home and the future looks to be filled with ease, pleasure, and a good education. However, the Nazis change all that. With their invasion of the city and eventually, all of Poland, Anita and her brother must flee. At first they manange to escape to the Polish countryside with their nanny, and when that fails, they go to the ghetto with Anita's mother. But the inevitable finally happens, and Anita and her brother find themselves confronted with the ultimate evil...a concentration camp. "No Pretty Pictures" doesn't end there, and goes even further to chronicle the challenges and differences of the war's aftermath. This book is a valuable addition to a Holocaust collection-memoirs really are the best books written about a subject, and Anita's is wonderful. The thing that makes this one stand out from the others is the way experiences are captured with a child's sense of fear and safety, comfort and pain, and good and evil.

The author's memoir of growing up during World War 2.
This book was very sad, but it is a book that needs to be read. The author, Anita Lobel, was barely five when the Nazis invaded her home in Poland. As a young Jewish girl, she grew up persecuted. As the Nazis created more regulations, Anita and her little brother went into hiding, posing as the children of their Catholic nanny. Yet they were caught and sent to a concentration camp. All the odds were against them, yet the two children - just ten and eight years old - managed to survive three concentrations camps and a forced march. Anita grew up to illustrate children's books. One would never guess she had such a horrifying childhood - until reading this book.

No Pretty Pictures, A child At War By Cassandra
No Pretty Pictures, A Child At War

No Pretty Pictures is about a young girl who has to find her way back to her religion while she tries to understand the meaning of life. She starts out as a normal girl but with one difference. She was a Jew at a wrong time. Her name is Hannah. She has a little brother, a mom, dad, and a nanny. (The nanny is Christian.) Her dad left her and her family when she was five to go and fight in Russia; that is when things go wrong.
People know about the holocaust but few of us have lived through it. Well, this story is about a girl that does. When she was five years old she had to leave to go to a concentration camp. She leaves with her brother, and soon realizes that her life will never be the same. Her mom has papers that say she is a Christian so she doesn't have to go to the camp, but Hannah and her brother don't.
She goes through many hard times, and wonders if she will ever see her parents again. She was in the camps and away from her family for about six years, but she was away from her father the longest. Her father left and was not heard of until six years later when Hannah was in the hospital because she and her brother were diagnosed with tuberculosis. She was put in a hospital for more than three years but she was able to go to a real city. There, she learned the true meaning of life with a little surprise.
I really enjoyed this book. Many books have been written about World War II, but I feel like this one gives a better understanding about what really happened during the holocaust. I think that this book did have its strengths and it weaknesses. One strength is that it gave a good look at what happens to the kids that were in the holocaust, let alone everyone else. It made me feel like I was actually in the book, and it gave great detail about what happened to them and how they felt about the Nazis. One weakness was that it didn't give a clear description about how her family was reacting to the holocaust. Also, her dad left, but then he shows up in the end, but we don't really know what happened to him.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes learning about a new religion, and for someone who enjoys getting into a good book. I would not recommend this book to someone who was younger than nine because it is a harder book to read. I had many "favorite" parts in the book. Most of my favorite parts were the action parts. Many times they would talk about how the Nazis would treat Jews, and it made me feel like I was in the book, and I was one of the Jews who were being tortured.
This book made me think of a lot of questions. Some of them were, how would she react to the new change? How does her mom feel about her family being in the camps, and not her? Did Hannah ever lose hope? How would her brother feel about the experience? And to my surprise, all of them were answered.
I would definitely read this book again because it was so good, and I would still be surprised at some parts. I think this is the best book I have ever read about the holocaust. I hope that the author will try to make a book as good as this one once again.

A great read!
Summary:
In 1939, when Anita Lobel was five, German soldiers marched into Krakow. Anita's father, the owner of a chocolate factory and a Jew, runs away in the middle of the night. As a child, Anita Lobel spent years hiding from the Nazis and trying to protect her little brother. The two children have to work through assumed identities, a dangerous stay in the Krakow ghetto, hiding in a convent, and much more! They were captured and marched from camp to camp. Finally, in 1945, they were reunited with their parents and they had to learn to live all over again.

My thoughts:
This book touches your heart in a way few books do. Told from a child's point of view, using a very child-like voice, the story leaps out of the pages and into your mind. This book is written by an illustrator of beautiful picture books like Potatoes, Potatoes, and On Market Street. The title, No Pretty Pictures, seems to reflect her drawing career. In one example, when she first was allowed to enter school after the war, she was sent to an art class. There, she was given a blank piece of paper, a pencil, and a set of new watercolors. She painted a wonderful blue chair, to the delight of her art teacher and the other students. She hasn't stopped painting since.

One moral that simply explodes out of this book is to never give up. No matter what life throws at you - starvation, imprisonment, hiding, or whatever - you can persevere. Anita overcame all of the obstacles placed in front of her, either by herself or with the help of others, and has created a spectacular life for herself. If she can succeed despite such odds, so can everybody else.

I think children would love to read this book when they are old enough to get all the way through it. At almost 200 pages, it is not a quick book to read. But it is a gripping, page-turning story - one of those kind that you can't put down. I think children will be drawn to the child-like voice of the story, the innocence the author manages to use. Anita Lobel is one of those truly gifted authors that can tell a horrible story about a child, for a child, without sounding condescending or self-pitying.

I give No Pretty Pictures an A-
No Pretty Pictures is probably by far the best book I have ever read. It is filled with true life tragedies and it gave me such a feeling where I was happy to be alive at this day in time and in such a place as America. About 50 years ago, it was a horrible time where in which Anita Lobel was at the wrong place at the wrong time! Her autobiography uses such imagery and imaginative language, it's as if i were in that period of time walking side by side with her! At times it came to a point where she used too much detail to describe certain aspects of her life as a young Jewish and Polish girl. I feel this book should be read by someone who wants to learn a bit about history, someone is lost in their own lives or someone who just wants to read a good book and shed a tear or two. The reason I mostly enjoyed this book so much was because I come from Poland and it gave me a sense of what my people including my grandparetns and other relatives went through! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

awesome
The Battle of the Alamo by Carmen Bredeson is about people from different states who defend Texas' independence.I think they should have gotten reinforcements before the war started.The author Carmen Brendeson writes books about history that will make you feel like you are there.People who love history and battles should read this is a good book.I give it five stars! ... Read more

Book Description

As early as 1630, Spain, France, England, and the Netherlands had settlements or colonies in North America. Always looking for ways to expand their territory, these European nations were constantly at war with one another over trade, borders, and religious differences. Beginning in 1689, their conflicts in Europe spread across the Atlantic to America. Over the next seventy years, competing European powers would battle for control of the New World. The winner would take the prize -- all of North America.

Struggle for a Continent tells the riveting story of the French and Indian Wars seventy-four years of fighting that determined the destiny of the future United States.

Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies 2001, National Council for SS & Child. Book Council

Amazon.com

In the winter of 1945, on the tiny island of Iwo Jima, a ferocious, epic battle was fought, resultingin the loss of more than 48,000 lives and producing what was to become one of the most recognizablesymbols of World War II: a photograph of six soldiers raising an American flag on the peak of MountSuribachi. One of the six, Navy corpsman John Bradley, came away from this historical moment with a deepand mysterious silence about his role in the flag raising. Even his wife heard him speak of it only once intheir 47-year marriage. After Bradley's death, his son James began to piece together the facts of his father'sheroism, as well as that of the other five men, all of whom became reluctant heroes because of their presenceduring that fateful instant when the shutter clicked and created a wartime icon.

Based on James Bradley's Flags of Our Fathersfor adults, this abridged version for younger readers retains the somewhat terse drama, intense heartbreak,and bittersweet triumph of the original narrative. Through his research on the event and the soldiers (three ofthe men were killed in combat within days of the flag raising), Bradley explores the dubious nature ofheroism and the devastating effects of war. (Ages 14 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Flags of Our Fathers - a memorable book
This is a most moving book about heroism born of necessity; of ordinary men who, as young marines, were propelled into the hideous island battles of the Pacific during WW2. The book tells the stories of the men who raised the flag, of those who died and those who lived, and what happened to them afterwards.

Ex-combatants sometimes find that peacetime doesn't bring happiness and the story of Ira Hayes' inablity to cope is poignant. The one who found peace, the author's father, was the one who was able to let go.

This book introduced me, a European, to a part of the war I'd known little about. It also, to my astonishment, challenged my revulsion about the use of the bomb. It puts into context the military realities of the time and the likely human cost of an invasion of Japan.

This is a human story, well told with honesty, compassion and pride.

The tragedy of war
I felt like I was there. I could feel my eyes stinging and my heart pounding with every page describing the battles. These scenes were some of the best I've ever read. However, the book seemed to drag toward the end. Still, it was a proud book that honors the military that will make you want to salute all the veterens you know.

Flags on Iwo Jima
Flags of Our Fathers is a grand book by James Bradley. It is about the small island of Iwo Jima is in the pacific region. It is a Japanese controlled airstrip close to the country of Japan. The Americans wanted to take control of this very small island because it is a prime place to re-fuel and land aircraft on, the island before they go to attack Japan. This book is about six men and the rest of the Marines and Navy that all go to the island to take control of it.

Those six men fought on that island and they raised the flag on top of Mount Suribachi. They started the famous image taken by Mr. Rosenthal.

This in my view is the greatest book in world. It is a very touching and emotional book. It was sad and really spoke to me. It is hard to believe that these men were just doing their duty.
I recommend this splendid book to anybody that wants to read a very touching book about the heros of Iwo Jima.

Best book I have ever read
This book was the complete package! It gave a backround of each man on Iowa Gima that raised the flag. Then went into each mans way of getting to Mount Sirabachi. Then in the end of the book went into what each one did when they came back from the war. Couldn't put it down and have read it three times since I recieved it. You will not regret buying this book.

A MUST READ!!!!!
This is an awesome book. It had me glued from page one. If you don't read any other book this year, make sure that this is the one. I can only hope that a movie will follow for these amazing men and all of the other people that fought and died for our country. We owe them and this book is a fitting tribute to them. I only wish that this would have been written earlier. KUDO's to you. ... Read more

Book Description

Discover the war that turned brother against brother -- from the birth of the Confederacy to Reconstruction.

Here is a dramatic, photo-filled guide to the war that split the Union. Eyewitness Civil War includes everything from the issues that divided the country, to the battles that shaped the conflict, to the birth of the reunited states. Rich, full-color photographs of rare documents, powerful weapons, and priceless artifacts plus stunning images of legendary commanders, unsung heroes, and memorable heroines combine with stories of courage, adventure, and defiance to paint an unforgettable portrait of the American Civil War. See Fort Sumter's battle-torn flag, a beardless Lincoln, the tools of a Civil war surgeon, and the Confederate capital in ruins. Learn how to fire a cannon, the secrets of the Underground Railroad, about the Confederacy's First Lady, and what soldiers carried into battle. Discover who plotted Lincoln's assassination, where the last Confederates surrendered, what happened to Jefferson Davis, and why the North won the war, and much, much more! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Another beautiful DK book!
DK is great at creating books full of high-quality photos. This book includes great photos of Civil War soldiers in their uniforms. It also has photos of soldiers lying dead on a battlefield and a Southern home riddled with holes from canon fire, photos I had never seen in my history books. It has good, close-up photos and drawings of the guns, grenades, hardtack biscuits and other everyday items used by soldiers back then. Very interesting!

The DK Eyewitness series takes on the entire Civil War
I think that with the topic of the Civil War the DK Eyewitness Book series has met its match. The goal of these wonderfully illustrated books is to give readers the equivalent of going to a museum, albeit one that is able to collect photographs, paintings, and artifacts from dozens of choice sources. However, when you are dealing with a topic as large as the Civil War all you can really do is scratch the surface and provide readers with a general introduction. "Civil War" is definitely not the first book a young student would turn to for information about the topic, but for those whose previous readings have kindled a passion for this pivotal period in American history this book will be a treat, primarily in its depiction of artifacts. Young Civil War buffs will already be familiar with the portraits of the Union and Confederate generals, and many of the photographs and etchings will be familiar from other illustrated works. Consequently, they will find the contemporary photographs of priceless historic artifacts to more interesting that the familiar period illustrations.

This photo-filled guide focuses each two-page spread on particular topics ranging from the Underground Railroad and how both sides raised armies to black volunteers and field artillery. The war itself is reduced to the battles of Bull Run and Gettysburg, the siege of Vicksburg, Sherman's March to the Sea, and Lee's surrender. Again, this underscores that this is a supplemental volume and not a primary source of information about the Civil War. The rule of thumb here is that the less you know about the Civil War the more you will be impressed with this volume, because the more you know the more likely you have already encountered most of the information and illustrations contained herein. I also think that this particular volume tries a bit too hard. Case in point, the famous engraving of Senator Charles Sumner being attacked by South Carolina Congressman Preston Brooks with a cane on the floor of the U.S. Senate colors in the two main figures, and other illustrations have been colorized as well.

However, all of this simply goes to underscore that the great value of the DK Eyewitness Books series is that they show us things we have never seen and in my case this particular subject is one that has already exposed me to a lot of what we find in this book. Several volumes in this format could have been devoted to the topic of the Civil War, so I would not be surprised if somewhere down the road some companion volumes to this effort were produced. ... Read more

Book Description

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

World War II was one of the most destructive episodes in human history.Never before, or since, has the world witnessed such widespread bloodshed.Beginning with the events that led to its outbreak, World War II goes on to introduce the main leaders and highlight the decisive moments.From Pear Harbor, Midway, and the Atlantic to fighting in Russia and in the desert, outstanding and original photography provides a unique glimpse of the tragedies that led to the loss of more than 50 million lives.Written by Simon Adams, author of many popular history titles including Children's History of the 20th Century and Eyewitness Titanic, World War II offers compelling insight into the most destructive war of the 20th century. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Intro to WWII for Kids!
Another good book in the Eyewitness Series. This book does a good job of condensing the vast amount of information available on WWII and, as usual, the pictures tell the story in an interesting way for children. We collect Eyewitness Books and my kids were so glad to see this book and the others on WWI, the Civil War and the American Revolution. ... Read more

Book Description

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

Here is an original and exciting new look at the history of weapons and armor through the ages. Stunning real-life photographs reveal the design, construction and workings of everything from a medieval crossbow to a pair of dueling pistols, and offer a unique "eyewitness" view of how methods of warfare have changed.See the very first weapons ever made, the armor worn by medieval knights, the battledress of a Japanese samurai, the guns used by the soldiers, frontiersmen, and outlaws of the Wild West.Learn how Greek and Roman soldiers dressed for battle, how suits of armor were made and worn, how crossbows were loaded and fired, and how Native Americans hunted and fought on the Great Plains.Discover what weapons were carried by the first police officers, how sword and pistol duels were fought, when the first firearms were invented and how they worked, and much, much more! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

This book was more about weapons than about arms and armor.
This book isn't really about arms and armor-- it's about weapons. If you are looking for a book that is compleatley about arms and armor, then find another book, but if you want a book that is about the history of weapons, then this is the book for you. I was looking for arms and armor, and this book didn't really have that much information on it.

SEE real weapons and armor
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 arms & armor, accompanied by informative captions and text.

Learn about all types of armor and weapons, how they were used, and the people who used them.

If you know someone (young or old) who is fascinated by armor, then you must introduce them to this book!

A Wonderful Reference
From a different perspective, I have always found this book to be a wonderful reference for role-playing games. In my D&D campaign, this book was required reading for all players. It may not be the most thorough book on the subjest but it is pretty close. It gives those new to gaming an incredible viewpoint of medieval armour, siege weapons and types of weapons and their uses that fall outside the general point of reference for most young people. Any RPG fan is sure to love this book.

Aside from RPG fans, I think this book has something to offer everyone. All of the books in the Eyewitness series stand apart as an amazing set of visual reference volumes. Vivid illustration and bold lettering make them easy to read and do not put off younger readers while the wealth of information available and the thoroughness which they have exercised in creation of these volumes earn these books a welcome place in any reference library - whether school, village or home.

I reccomend this book
I reccomend this book for anyone wishing to learn more about weaponry or doing a school project. While I was studing a specific part of the book for an article in American history, I found interest in many other parts of the book as well. It was very helpful and very interesting. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The American war for independence and its aftermath shaped the brand-newnation and provided many of the patriotic heroes and legends that are stillcelebrated today. In this handsome and informative addition to DK's Eyewitnessseries, many of the finer details of life during the Revolutionary War areexplored, including, of course, the political backdrop, powerful leaders such asthe young George Washington, and dramatic battles. This is no dry textbook,however. Readers will also discover exactly what kind of clothing soldiers wore,and see actual photos of weapons, snuff boxes, restored original fightingvessels, and the silver inkstand used by Congressional delegates as they signedthe Declaration of Independence. Spy methods are described, Loyalists andpatriots are defined, and the symbols and songs of war and freedom areexplained. Even a subject as old and oft-told as the American Revolution is madefresh by D.K.'s compelling photos and enlightening text. Appetite whetted formore war stories? Take a look at these titles in the Eyewitness referencecollection: World War II,Civil War, and Battle. (Ages 9 and older)--Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Taxation Without Represeentation
The book is non fiction. The plot is that the British are doing taxation without representation in the 1700s.

My favorite things in the book are some of the battles it tells about, like the Battle of Long Island. I also like the book because of all the facts it has and all the information. The flag illustrations are cool too.

I highly recommend this book for people who like facts and are above age 8.

Beautiful full-color illustrations and photos!
All the DK Eyewitness books are page after page of photos, with lots of good info packed in. Since there aren't many photos from the American Revolution era, more paintings and drawings are used here, but they are all very detailed and colorful. Items which I've heard about but never seen before, such as Spanish silver coins that the Colonists would literally cut in half to make change, are shown in close-up. Very educational for kids, and adults!

Like going to a museum on the American Revolution
This DK Eyewitness book on the "American Revolution" makes for a nice supplement for young students who are studying the subject in history class.There is certainly basic information about the battles of Breed's Hill, Saratoga, and Yorktown, as well as looks at the Declaration of Independence, symbols of freedom, spies and traitors, George Washington, and other topics, but the primary attraction here are the period illustrations and historic artifacts presented, most of which come from the extensive collection of the Smithsonian Institution.There is something to be said for a 1766 Williamsburg teapot that declares "No Stamp Act" or the 1775 proclamation by King George III that declared the American colonies to be in rebellion.You will also find photographs of the first British flag ever captured by an American force, the oldest American fighting vessel in existence, and the designs of both the original Purple Heart and the Seal of the United States.Beyond that there are portraits of all of the major figures, both political and military, on both sides, and dozens of other things you could only see in a museum. All of the photographs have informative captions, provided by author Stuart Murray, that really help make reading this volume just like taking a tour of a museum. Young readers should get a basic understanding of the history of the American Revolution from their textbook before they enjoy flipping through the pages of this wonderfully illustrated volume.

I learned so much!
This book shows such a variety of artifacts from the Revolutionary War, it's just amazing!All of the photographs and illustrations are very clear and it makes it easy to really understand what things were like back then. ... Read more

Book Description

"Fight for Freedom" is a beautiful book about the American Revolutionary War. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent book to enhance a history lesson
Whether you are dealing with elementary children or even high school, this book sheds a new light on United States history. We are not usually taught about the destruction that our nation caused with the atomic bomb, but this book makes it very personal. However, it is a tear-jerker! That could be helpful to expose children to the feelings that come along with death of a family member or friend.

The tears flowed and knowledge is gained....
This is an excellent adaptation of the story of Sadoko. The book highlights the important parts, but keeps it on a level for children. It causes tears, hope, and courage in all that read it. It has a fasinating plot for such a short book. The illustrations are breathtaking and really portray a sense of the lessons of the book. This book is well worth reading for every age level. My husband and I both cried, as well as my thirteen year old sister. There is a lesson and a tear for everybody in this book. ... Read more

Book Description

A series of personal stories from some of the non-Jews, including gypsies, political and religious activists, the physically challenged, and other "undesirables," who were persecuted but escaped the fate of the five million Gentiles murdered by the Nazis. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

my review
The Other Victims was a book of real life stories from the Holocaust. I liked this book because it tells how people had to go into hiding, how they had no freedom, and how they fought back. The book is mainly about people trying to escape from Germany to America or a safe country. My favorite chapter was Bubili: a young Gypsy's fight for survival. Once I started to read this book I couldn't put it down. The reason I couldn't put this book down was it was all true. I thought it was hard to believe it actually happened. The people were killed because of their religion, color, looks, and trying to stop the wrong that was going on.

The Other Victims by Ina R. Friedman
I really liked how this book showed the persecution of all people not only the Jews. In almost all other books I've read about WW2 they talk about the persecution of the Jews. This book made the Holocaust more real to me. It gave me a better perception of what the Nazis were really doing and to some extent why. I think we need to recognize the other groups that suffered also. To me this book is a monument to their suffering.

Terrific teaching resource!
In "The Other Victims", Ina R. Friedman recounts the treatment of non-Jewish people during the Nazi occupation of Germany. From Blacks to Deaf people, the Nazis used sterilization, euthanasia, and even mass murder to stop apparent "defects." Each section includes a brief description and a first-hand account of an individual from each group.

One notable story is that of Fanny Schwarz. Fanny was born deaf to deaf parents. As such, the government decided that she was defective and tried her to determine whether she should be sterilized. During the ensuing years she was sterilized twice, the second time in addition to taking her reproductive capabilities, they also took the child she was carrying. Schwarz recounts her physical and emotional pain during this dark period. Other stories are equally moving.

This book is an excellent teaching resource! I would recommend it to both students and history teachers alike. Not only does it present narratives on people often overlooked during discussions of Nazi persecution, it also does so in small chunks, easy to read or take alone in specific teaching units. Definitely a worthwhile resource!

Jehovah Witnesses
I think this book was so true to its title. One of the many stories was about a Jehovah Witness family who stayed strong in their religion. They sacrificed everything, even at the risk of dying. It was a true joy to read about them, and to almost get a feel of the religion. I think everyone should read this because I cried, and I rarely ever cry.

In Defense. . .
I read this book almost ten years ago when I was in the seventh grade. I found it and read it myself, no teacher help. I have to say this in defense of this book--it made a profound impact on me when I was 12 years old. It was the first time I realized that the Holocaust wasn't just about Jews. In retrospect, I think it was the first time I realized the ENTIRE horror of what really happened. These many years later, of course, this book doesn't mean the same thing. But it is a very powerful work for younger readers and it helps paint a complete picture of what Nazi Germany was like. I highly recommend it to show just how insane things were. ... Read more

Book Description

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

Here is an original and exciting guide to the grim challenge of life or death on the Western Front.Devastating first-hand reports and contemporary photographs of the battles that slaughtered millions, together with a clear account of how nation upon nation sent their men to join the carnage, combine to present a dramatic "eyewitness" view of this most terrible war.See the bullet-riddled car of the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, everyday life in the dugout, sappers mining tunnels beneath the enemy, and Mata Hari learning the art of spying.Learn how people avoided gas attacks, when periscopes were used, what soldiers wrote home to their sweethearts and mothers, the best way to use a tank, how troops flattened a hillside, and the meaning of Armistice Day.Discover how it felt to go over the top, what happened to all the bodies, how people dealt with shell shock,why war led to revolution, and much, much more. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent reference!
This book really brought World War I to life. I was surprised at how little I really knew about this war. This may be billed as a kid's book, but people of all ages will enjoy it. It's a great source for learning a lot about the war in a short period of time. The entire Eyewitness series is worth checking out.

Devastation
... In war, human lives are like dust
as bullets and arrows fly with death.
The wandering ghosts, the lost souls
make the scene still more mournful.
There were children, just tiny things,
born in a bad time,
separated from their parents.
No one was there to hold them close.
Heart-rending were their infant cries.

-Nguyen Du (1765-1820)

During the start of the 20th century, the countries of Europe increased in hostility towards one another. Few imagined a continental war. Even now, few of us can even imagine such a war, let alone what happened on Sept 11th. It is horrifying to imagine that in fact, it could happen a third time and repeat itself with alarming frequency until the end of time. In this cycle of violence, it seems man will never learn how to achieve peace.

What this book does, is take a look at the devastating first-hand reports and contemporary photographs of the battles that slaughtered millions.

The contents include:

Divided Europe - Aggressive policies and arrogant behavior.
The Fatal Shot - Assassination on June 28, 1914
War in the West - Interesting picture of Christmas pudding that was
sent as a gift to soldiers in 1914
Fighting Men - How the lives of millions of men changed
Enlisting - See what a survival kit looked like
Digging in the Trenches -The philosophy behind how the trenches were constructed
is interesting.
Life in the Trenches - Dealing with rats, lice and mud
Ready to Fight - weapons used during raids

Communications and Supplies - missile messages and postal pigeons
Observation and Patrol - Artificial trees and barbed wire. You can see how
adaptations were made during the war for various reasons.
Bombardment - Body armor and shell power
Over the Top - Pictures of men leaving the trenches and tending to the wounded>
Casualty - 21 million wounded
Women at War - Supporting the troops
War in the Air - Aircraft guns and fighter planes
Zeppelin - Early in the war, airships could fly higher than planes so it
was almost impossible to shoot them down.
War at Sea - Life inside a U-Boat
Gallipoli - Tin cans made into grenades
The battle of Verdun - "What a bloodbath, what horrid images, what a slaughter. I just cannot find the words to express my feelings. Hell cannot be this dreadful." ~Albert Joubaire
Gas Attack - What happened if the wind blew in the wrong direction?
The Eastern Front - Why Russian soldiers refused to fight at some point.
War in the desert - Pictures of Lawrence of Arabia's rifle and shoes called "sand shoes."
Espionage - A short story of secret ink, invisible ink, button messages, Mata Hari, hidden messages in tin cans, army intelligence, pocket cameras.
Tank warfare - See inside a tank
The US enters the war - pictures of infantry equipment
Under enemy lines - Pictures of the most horrendous conditions
The Final Year - Timeline of the end of the war
Armistice and Peace - Read about the Peace Treaties
The Cost of the War - The reality of war = death. Pictures of memorials.

I think it is good for children to read this type of book to see where we have been and where we don't want to go again. ... Read more

Book Description

Mathew B. Brady was already a famous photographer by the time the Civil War began. But the war gave Brady something else:

The chance to make a RECORD OF A WAR -- this war -- in a way that had never been done before: WITH TRUE-TO-LIFE PICTURES INSTEAD OF JUST WORDS. He hired field photographers to travel with the troops, equipped them with cameras and wagons filled with supplies, and sent them out with the directive to make a visual record of the war and to show people scenes they could have only read about before.

The pictures the field photographers sent back were HAUNTING, BEAUTIFUL, DEVASTATING, AND TOTALLY UNFORGETTABLE. And thousands of them included the notation "Photo by Brady." Though Brady didn't actually take the photographs, he was the genius behind them. His vision and foresight gave the country images that not only touched the people at the time, but have gone on to leave an indelible mark on the collective memory of this country. And the name of Mathew Brady will always be remembered with them.

In Photo By Brady, Jennifer Armstrong tells the story of the Civil War as seen through the lenses of its recorders. It is a moving and elegant look at the brutal and deadly time. ... Read more

Book Description

Illustrated with black-and-white photographs. Young Shi Nomura was among the

120,000 American citizens who lost everything when he was sent by the U.S.

government to Manzanar, an interment camp in the California desert, simply

because he was of Japanese ancestry. "In clear and fascinating prose, Stanley

has set forth the compelling story of one of America's darkest times--the

internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II.His meticulously

researched volume is accompanied by numerous, fine period black-and-white

photographs...This eloquent account of the disastrous results of racial

prejudice stands as a reminder to us in today's pluralistic society."

--School Library Journal (starred)




... Read more

Reviews (2)

THEY DESERVE BETTER
I read this boook because I had a history project all about Japanese Internment. Before I read this book I thought Japanese Interment was only about the Japanese in some camps. I didn't realize the injustice that we set upon these noble and great people. After reading this book I felt enraged at how the Japanese would have to sell or burn their beautiful and valuble items. I think they deserve so much more than a letter from the President. We should have a much better tribute toward them. I have always been proud of living in such a great state such as California, but I am not proud that they were the least tolerant of the Japanese.

Dear Fellow Adolescents,
In this book called I Am An American that I read is a really good book because it is for the kids at the reading level of 9-12 (ages to). If you wanted to know the story. Well in the story their is a yough boy and his family that were intered with others. Also in this story is based one a true one, it is almost like a biography. As I was thinking about this story I realized that is was a very educational it makes you think about the world itself. When I was reading some other reviews I saw one and it caught my attention and I had to write about it. It was about a girl who had experienced what went on in the book. As I was reading on in this review it said that the girl and her family were interned too, just like the boy in the girl in the review. The girl's name that was interned with her family was Shi Nomura. I think being interned is like you having to pack up all of your things and then moving out of the place where you were and then never returning. I think that is just like being interned because you can never go back. And then I started to read another review and it mentioned that this whole thing happened during World War II, and that was one of the worst wars that went on in the world years ago. They said that Japan and many other countries were over world order. "Freedom has a Tousand charms to show". I used this because the people that were interned probably thought that they were going to be free because it makes it seem like they were going to be free but they weren't, going to be free at all. I think that it was a good book because it tells how badly people were treated, it had said that it was a good book. Some people may say that it was not a good book because it might make kids think that when they grow up they will be treated that way. It also might make it seem that this is still going on. It also might make teens think that the world around them is unfair to different people (races). Then it might make teens feel that some people in the world are disrespectful to different people (races), and should be respect to them no matter what race the people are. And it could make them think that people have no kind of respect for others and instead of being mean to them. It is a good book however kids can read it, get an educational idea of their life and the world that surrounds it. I Am An American can get a teen or a child to start reading at the reading level of 9-12. If you by this book then you will enjoy reading it because it will tell you what went on in the world back then instead of now. If you read this book now you will think that "Life isn't the same".

Your Fellow Adolescent, Shanti Lipscomb ... Read more