Book Description

On March 9, 1862, two unusual-looking iron-clad warships faced each other inbattle and changed naval warfare forever. When the American Civil War began, warships were still made of wood. Early in the war the Southern Confederates salvaged the sunken Union ship Merrimack, built an iron structure on the deck, and renamed her the CSS Virginia. When they were finished she was a brand new kind of warship-an ironclad.

The Northern Union had also been secretly racing to build their own ironclad, the USS Monitor.The two ships were born almost simultaneously and met just one day after the unstoppable Virginia single-handedly destroyed two of the Union'smightiest wooden warships. By the time their historic showdown was through, the age of wooden warships was shattered forever. ... Read more

Book Description

With compelling photographs and memorabilia, and a gripping text that draws on the recollections of American and Japanese civilians, sailors, and airmen, Attack on Pearl Harbor evocatively recreates this tragic day. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Have To Agree With The LJ Review
The review in Library Journal was right on the money. Although
this book covers the attack from a "different perspective", it
makes the Americans look both stupid and boorish. There is, in fact, a definite implication that they were drunk and ill-prepared while implying (perhaps unintentionally) that the Japanese were heroic in their actions. It is true that Ms. Tanaka is writing from the point of view of her characters, but since this is history and not fiction, it may become confusing for students, especially since, when mentioning (almost in passing) that the dropping of the atomic bomb killed 200,000 people, but fails to make a connection WHY this was done.
Fine if you want a feel for the period but not if you want more than a feel.

This Book is #1!
Attack on Pearl Harbor: The True Story of The Day America Entered World War II
By Shelly Tanaka & David Craig

Would you like to have lived in the time of Pearl Harbor? Almost everything was on fire in the harbor. The first attack was at 7:55 am and 183 planes attacked. The second attack was at 10:00 am and 170 planes attacked. It was a horrifying experience for those who lived through it.

I liked this book because it told me about history and the famous Pearl Harbor. The paintings are beautiful. The paintings help the reader to picture the story and to show how people felt.

If you like history and sad stories this is the book for you. The author tries to tell you to always be ready. We are no longer enemies with the Japanese, but will America stop other attacks?

Being there
I know of Peter Nottage, and I was present in Hawaii when the attack took place. His recollections have brought back to me the drama of the times. Although I was not as old as he was, Mr. Nottage's descriptions match what I recall. Iunderstand he lived in Kanohe, and at that time I lived on the other side not far from Kaimuki, so we did not get the brunt of the attack as he did. A first rate work. I have grandchildren for whom I will purchase this fine book.

Pearl Harbor for Children
Shelley Tanaka presents Pearl Harbor in a somewhat different perspective. Pearl Harbor becomes more than Tora! Tora! Toar! and a picture of the sinking Arizona. The eye witness reports form all sides: Japan Military, US Military and civilians and kids. Good book! ... Read more

Book Description

During the days of Nazi terror in Europe, many Jewish children were taken from their families and hidden. Régine Miller was one such child, who left her mother, father, and brother when she was 10 years old. Utterly alone as she is shunted from place to place, told to tell no one she is Jewish, she hears that her mother and brother have been taken by the SS, the German secret police. Only her desperate hope that her father will return sustains her. At war’s end she must learn to live with the terrible truth of “the final solution,” the Nazi’s extermination camps.

The people who sheltered Régine cover a wide spectrum of human types, ranging from callous to kind, fearful to defiant, exploitive to caring. This is a story of a brave girl and an equally brave woman to tell the story so many years later. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Escaping The Clutches Of Hitler
Escaping The Clutches Of Hitler,

I liked this book because I enjoy reading about the Holocaust and I always about people who went through the Holocaust. This book is about is different because it is about a girl that hid the whole entire time.
Her name is Regine Miller and she went threw a series of different houses and all different types of them. Regine Miller was born in Brussels to parents who had escaped the anti-Semitism of Eastern Europe. She was 10 years old in 1942. She didn't understand why the Jews were being restricted from bike, certain hours of the day, and the yellow star they had to wear. In the mean time her mom, Mrs. Miller was getting sicker and they, at the time, didn't know what from. Regine was one of the best writers in the grade. She loved to write. As the war progressed her father, Maurice Miller, heard that the Nazis were deporting Jews but he would not leave his wife, since she could barely walk. One day a nock came from the door. Mr. Miller went to answer it and there was a messenger there and he had a message that read that his son, Leon Miller, was to report to the rail road station Mr. Miller ignored the notice and shoved the messenger down the stairs the next day the same messenger came again and again it said he had to report to the rail road station but this time it also said if he didn't the Nazis would take and kill there whole entire family. So they decided to that they had to make him go. They never saw him again.
Her father at that point decided that it was not safe here for Regine. So he arranged for her to go and live with some one in Brussels. Her name was Madame Andre, she did not let Regine do anything she could not go out side nor talk to any one her father came once every three weeks. Her father suddenly stopped coming then her aunt came to drop off the money then a girl named Nicole started coming. Regine lived there for about one year and about a month before she left Madame Andre got extremely worried that she would become caught so she arranged with a lady called Nicole to move Regine.
She went to a new family just about 30 miles away there she was made to work and she ended up with calluses and injured hands. When Nicole found out she immediately moved Regine to a different home.
This new house she stayed with a couple that did not have any kids and they were Catholic!!!!!!!!!! This is a problem she is Jewish and they are Catholic how is she not to let them know she is not Jewish. Regine had no idea how she was going to pull this off. She tried to copy every thing they did they were a nice couple that treated Regine like their own. Regine did not know anything about being catholic. They asked her many questions like are you baptized? , Where are your parents? They finally realized she was Jewish but did not mention it and kept her there at their home and did seem to care.
Finally Regine went and looked for any survivors of her family and found only her uncle she has only seen once in her entire life.

Living in Brussels and Experiencing Past and Present
I am a 6th grade teacher at an International School in Brussels. We are reading this book as a whole class read aloud. The book is very interesting as it talks about places that the kids know and live. Regine's story, as told in this book, has contributed greatly to the authenticity of the children's learning. Tomorrow we are taking a quick ride on the tram a few stops to the old Gestapo Headquarters to see just how integrated the Nazis were in every day life for the Belgians. I whole heartedly recommend this book. Tragic and hopeful.

It was about a girl that was Jewish and had a difficult life
Absolutly amazing like a trilogy of life but in different ways that were being written for a young girl that wanted to pour her heart out in the Jewish world that had to be kept a secret for her. It was truly a great biography of what life became for a girl that could not stay long unless she loved it there for it was her coice and a destiny to make it within her. It was a spectaculur book of what Jewish life was like for I have never lived in such a difficult life and it was a masterpiece of what seemed like a lifetime ago in a world that nobody has ever lived in before and a young girl told everyone her life that she had lived in her world of privacy where nothing was to be told to anyone. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Packed with photos (color and black-and-white), maps, personal stories, and concise, readabledescriptions of the major events of World War II, bestselling author Stephen E. Ambrose's The GoodFight is a stunning resource for students of history. Though this horrific war has been written aboutinnumerable times over the last half-century, this chronicle for young readers (14 and older) is one of themost vivid, insightful, and straightforward perspectives around. Ambrose pulls no punches. In the firstparagraph of his introduction, he reminds us that "more people were killed, more houses, apartmentbuildings, factories, bridges, and other works of man were destroyed than ever before or since." From Hitler'srise to power to Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor to the air war over Europe to the War Crimes Trials, the majorevents of the war are thoughtfully examined and depicted.

Each chapter features one of the most important campaigns, players, situations, or battles, with a full-page,often chilling photograph covering half the two-page spread and inset photos on the narrative page as well.Quick Facts boxes appear in every chapter to highlight interesting and relevant details. Large campaign andbattlefield maps are interspersed throughout. Readers will come away with a painfully real sense of what lifewas like in the 1930s and '40s for the soldiers, families, women workers (Rosie the Riveter is included, ofcourse), heroes, and victims of this most devastating, cruel war. (Ages 14 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Essential for school libraries and young history readers
This book, geared towards young readers in middle school, is a useful, short book designed to give these readers some appreciation for World War II in both theaters of war. It semi-obviously promotes the American viewpoint, but still has enough interesting data and anecdotes to bring the human side of the conflict into focus. It has plenty of maps and illustrations/photos, and would be helpful in school sna libraries to provide younger citizens with an idea of what service is all about, and intirduce them to good history telling.

The Good Fight by Stephen E. Ambrose
This is an extraordinary book! I was amazed at how Stephen Ambrose could write the story of World War II for a young audience. My daughter asked me a lot of questions--she was really interested in Rosie the Riveter! And my son wanted me to explain more. The photos and illustrations did a wonderful job adding to Ambrose's words. I have to say that I learned some things that I didn't know, too! Thank you, Mr. Ambrose for taking such a complicated subject and telling it in a way that kids can understand.

The Best Book For Research
I was writing a research paper on world war two, and was required to have 6 sources, but only needed one. No Joke...GReat info packed book!

A very good World War II book for children
This thin (96 pages), but large, book is a colorful look at the United States' participation in World War II. Each section is given two pages; one containing a large (and often color!) picture or map, while the other is a combination of text, one or two pictures and a "Quick Facts" sidebar. While not in-depth, this attractive book will give the younger reader and a very good overview of the War. Plus, the excellent use of color will help the younger reader to connect with the book.

Overall, I thought that this was a very good World War II book for children, and I highly recommend it.

Citizen Soldier for young folks - very well done!
This is a fantastically done book. I was cautious about a "War" book for kids - worried that the historical tragedy and horrors of war would be either too graphic or transformed in macho-heroism. This book does neither.

This book is very well balanced history book. It lays out the historical facts, interspersed with quality and relevent anecdotes and personal events. It shows the young reader the sacrifice and courage of the young men and women in the services.

A first rate book by a first rate writer! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A decent introduction of the Civil War for younger readers
This short book about the Civil War, intended for junior high to high school-level readers, is a brief summary, not only of what happened during the war, but also many of the causes of it and subsequent effects after the war was over.It is beautifully organized and laid out, and comes complete with several photographs which bring a vivid reality to the events described.All in all, the account it gives is decent, though heavily tainted by bias.Damon spends a lot of time talking about slavery, and presents all the atrocities of slavery (using Harriet Beecher Stowe, Booker T. Washington, and Frederick Douglass as ammunition) without clarifying the fact that not all slaves were constantly beaten, cruelly violated, and mistreated in every way.Instead of focusing so much on the barbarities of slavery, I would have liked to see some objectivity.Slavery was a cruel practice, and you can impress that upon the mind of a teenager without taking the most extreme examples of inhumanity and treating them as the norm.

Don't let this minor problem turn you off from this book, however. Again, this is a nice, brief introduction to the war, and worthy at least of a casual perusal. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

extremely interesting
this is a really informative and interesting synopsis of the weapons, fighting styles and military customs of the American Indians- breaks down into separate sections on Indians fighting Indians and Indiansd fighting whites, a good touch, and has a great chapter telling all about how the ghost dance came about- a must for those who have an interst in Indians and their way of life ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

deth tolls on ye strange travelor
this book is inbetween action and history and by that i mean that 6 out of 8 chapters involve no action whatsoever besides i little thing on spys while the 7 chapter involved the bombing and the 8th involved whom died and who was a hero if i had wonted to learn about the purple machine then i wouldve gone to a museum and learned about it instead of learning what they said before the attack which is totaly useless and it does inolve if not racial hatred itself it still "forgot" to tell of dead japanese and the japanese hero born that day anyway read this book if you wish to read a poorly substituted substitue for action or your moms forcing you too

Best Book Ever!
This Book is a book of suspence and thrills. I still can't put it down! It is sad that the US could not defend Hawaii even after the translations from the PURPLE! The Japenese forces were strong,but very cruel. I'm glad we gave Japan a payback punch.
"POOOWWWWWW". "WE HAVE WAKEN A SLEEPING GIANT,THE US"!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

navy seals
this book is excellent for the people who have an interest with the navy seals should read this book. it has from weapons to tactical traing and the bigger book has evn more information to read
... Read more

Book Description

Who was the woman who wore the hat I saw in the Jewish Museum?When did she buy it, and where did she wear it? I wonder if she wore it the day she left home the last time, that cold, cold day when the Jews were arrested in the Square. It could have been my mother's hat. It could have been my hat . . . or yours.

This book, a meditation on a woman's hat on display in the Jewish Historical Museum in Amsterdam, combines a pensive prose poem with arresting collage artwork. The illustrations, consisting of pencil drawings, subdued watercolors, and old photographs, sometimes suggest a distant memory and at other times bring the reality of the Holocaust into sharp focus. Subtle yet powerful, historical and personal, this book will have a lasting impact on everyone who experiences it. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Uncertain
Although I rated this book with four stars, I find it problematic as to who would actually read this book. It is poignant and touching, and beautifully done, but I am not certain that it is appropriate for a 9 - 12 year old as indicated in the book review above. It provokes discussion and maybe would be ideal for a pre-Holocaust read-aloud session for an older class. I would be hesitant to give it to a child to read on their own, unless they were at least junior-high age.

Winner of the 2003 SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARD!
Who Was the Woman Who Wore the Hat? is the gold medal winner of the 2003 Sydney Taylor Book Award from the Association of Jewish Libraries! It was selected out of nearly 200 eligible titles as the best Judaic book of the year for older juvenile readers.

Poignant; beautiful; understated yet magnificent! This is a short, poetic meditation on a hat left behind by an anonymous victim of the Holocaust. The ordinary object is observed in a way that makes it extraordinary; it becomes supercharged with significance as do objects on display in Holocaust museums. (The hat that inspired the book was, in fact, seen by the author at the Jewish Historical Museum in Amsterdam.) The book forms a respectful memorial to an unknown individual and by extension to all the anonymous people who died in the Holocaust.

The spare text is touching, emotive yet very controlled. There is a perfect balance between the general and the specific, the sweeping events like round-ups and the tiny details like whether the woman put cream in her coffee. There is balance, too, between the focus on the unknown woman, the narrator, and the reader. All three are refered to, reminding us that "there but for the grace of God go I."

The collaged illustrations work well as an accompaniment to the text. The sketches are soft and round-edged, and emotionally approachable. The scraps of photographs remind us that while we are imagining a life, we are talking about reality. The rough, torn borders evoke the theme of torn lives.

Some knowledge of the Holocaust will be helpful in understanding this book, although it could be used as an intriguing introduction to deeper study of the era for those whose knowledge is minimal. Reading this book would also be a perfect way to prepare for a visit to a Holocaust museum, putting readers into a respectfully curious state of mind about the artifacts they might see there. However, the book stands easily on its own, without need of teacher intervention. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Great for adults, too
There are 30 different abstract art masterpieces represented here, so it is definitely worth the price. All pieces are shown in color on the front and back covers, and each individual page has the name of the artist (years of their birth-death), title of the work, date created and type of medium used. So, it's educational and fun. I recommend it for all ages. ... Read more

Book Description

Anchors Aweigh!An alphabetical tour of the U.S. Navy.Learn about the Navy Seals, find out the difference between a boat and a ship, discover the Navy's very own alphabet, and much, much more. ... Read more

Book Description

Spies explores the undercover world of espionage, part of the intelligence-gathering operations of nations and global organizations. Learn more about the first spies, and find out what motivated these men and women to take such an unusual and often dangerous career path. ... Read more

Book Description

Start your engines -- here are the world's fastest, most powerful, most advanced vehicles. The Speed! 6-vol. series is filled with the most up-to-date information on the world's most amazing machines. Find out all about the world's fastest jet plane, the world's largest steam train, the world's fastest electric car, the world's fastest sailing vessel, the world's fastest motorcycle, and the most destructive military vehicle ever built. With large-format photographs and fascinating text, the Speed! series offers every reader a full blast of excitement! ... Read more