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Great book to introduce your child to modern art
This ABC book uses the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York to teach children the alphabet. Using well-known works of art such as Matisse's "Dance" for the letter "D" and van Gogh's "Starry Night" for the letter "N", this children's book introduces the alphabet by looking at different interpretations by well-known artists of what an elephant (E) or a vase (V) may look like. We have really enjoyed this book - even as early as 18 months. ... Read more

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An excellent juvenile history of the Panama Canal
This juvenile history of "The Panama Canal" from the Cornerstones of Freedom series provides a solid, basic background on the construction of one of the engineering wonders of the Modern World.Barbara Gaines Winkelman begins with the importance of the Monroe Doctrine in what was to come before going back to Balboa crossing the Isthmus of Panama to "discover" the Pacific Ocean.Spain was the first nation to seriously consider building a canal (the king ordered one built in 1814), but the revolt of Spanish colonies in South America ended that dream.It was not until the early 1900s that the United States emerged as a nation with the interest, money and power to build the canal.However, Winkelman details all of the various attempts and international politics in the interim period.The middle part of this volume covers the actual building of the canal in some detail while the final pages deal with the series of treaties that eventually gave Panama control of the canal,Young students doing a report on the history of the Panama Canal will find this an excellent resource, that goes well what little they might find in their history book.The historic etchings and photographs are particularly good in this volume, which is yet another solid effort in this most excellent series. ... Read more

Book Description

The cold war--the bitter standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union--lasted for over 50 years and polarized the world. The conflict had its roots in political and ideological disagreements dating back to the Russian Revolution of 1917--disagreements that intensified in the wake of World War II. Allan M. Winkler excerpts speeches by Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to demonstrate the growing abyss between the two political systems. President Harry S. Truman's announcement of the existence of a Soviet atomic bomb and his speech to Congress launching the Truman Doctrine testify to the gravity of the situation. The cold war was not always ""cold""--armed conflicts were narrowly avoided in the Cuban missile crisis and the Bay of Pigs, and war did erupt in Korea and Vietnam. The complex politics of the Vietnam War are represented by voices as divergent as Vietnamese nationalist Ho Chi Minh, President Lyndon B. Johnson, antiwar protesters, and a participant in the My Lai massacre. Cold war paranoia permeated American society. The investigations of writer Ring Lardner, Jr., and government official Alger Hiss by the House UnAmerican Activities Committee, along with speeches by Senator Joe McCarthy, lay bare the political repression at home generated by the perceived communist threat. Excerpts from Arthur Miller's play The Crucible and the film script of High Noon capture the mood of uncertainty and fear. A picture essay entitled ""The Atom Unleashed"" collects photographs and cartoons to explore one of the most controversial discoveries of the 20th century. Agreements made in the SALT treaties show the cold war finally coming to an end. In his 1992 State of the Union address, President Bush declared, ""By the grace of God, America won the cold war."" ... Read more

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Building the Panama Canal
This book relates the history of the Panama Canal. It describes how it was planned and built. It includes a political and economical background. Also it explores the health aspects of the project and its impact on humans and animals.

This books includes many photographs from this era. Some are clear, but many are not. It also includes an index. Although this book will be useful for children that are researching the topic, it will not be easy for them to use due to the vocabulary and low interest level. Buy if you need information on this subject.

Part of the Cultural and Geographical Exploration series by National Geographic. ... Read more

Book Description

Today, as in the earliest times, people wear clothes not only for warmth and comfort, but also to show their position in society or simply to look good and attract a partner.

Clothes of the Modern World looks at how fashions have changed in the last 200 years, as increasing industrialization has brought a greater range of garments and new fabrics, and traces the development of both haute couture and street style. Stunning detailed artwork on every page recreates clothes from Victorian crinolines and frock coats to miniskirts and sportswear.

Book Description

An early bird intro to Oregon basic state facts.Coversstate basics such as Oregon's state nickname, seal, song, bird, motto, flag,regions, industries, neighbors, and weather, plus an intro to Oregonhistory, people and more.Excellent for grades 2, 3, and 4.Basic stateinformation is presented in a non-intimidating way.Twenty-threeactivities reinforce basic Oregon facts.Great for easy reproducibleactivities, centers, a-page-a-day handouts, simple homework assignmentsand more.Includes glossary, bibliography and index.Free teacher's guidegives specific suggestions and instructions on how to get max educationalvalue from this book.It's never too early to study your great state! ... Read more

Amazon.com

In January 1901, a writer named Tudor Jenks wrote in the children's magazine St. Nicholas, "Days, weeks, months, and years pass without especial wonder. But the ending of a century comes but once to almost all of us, and history gives to each hundred years a character of its own." When James Cross Giblin set out to depict the 20th century in this compilation of essays, he chose to gather a variety of voices and stories, rather than provide a comprehensive overview. As a result, the essays, written by 11 well-known children's authors, have a charming, quirky quality, much like a mismatched tea set. So while Walter Dan Myers focuses on the changing concept of civil rights in America, Lois Lowry writes about photography and fashion through the generations. From politics to religion to sports to transportation, this eclectic collection captures the character of the past hundred years in classic American hodgepodge style. Yet these reflections as a whole are in no way lopsided. Taken together, they create a fascinating and personal picture that will appeal to curious readers of all ages. In addition to Myers and Lowry, the book includes essays by Russell Freedman, Eve Bunting, Albert Marrin, Jim Murphy, Bruce Brooks, Penny Colman, Milton Meltzer, Katherine Paterson, and Laurence Pringle. Occasional photographs add interest and atmosphere. (Ages 9 and older)--Emilie Coulter ... Read more

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A remarkable look at the dentury that was.
Eleven noted authors of nonfiction for young adults provide essays examining facets of life in the twentieth century, taking a look at science fiction predictionsin 1900, transportation, sports, women and civil rights.While chronological history provides a framework for looking at history, tthese essays add flesh and bon and a perspective. ... Read more

Book Description

This is a series of 8 thematically structured books on the history of the world with emphasis on geographical and historical context.This thematic approach to history provides an excellent overview of the people, places, events, and inventions that have shaped and influenced the last 40,000 years.Modern Weapons is an organized approach to the history of modern weapons and their uses, vividly brought to life and set in context by superb illustrations, engravings, battle maps and photographs.The modern period is defined as beginning in the early 17th century when guns were used on the battlefield as massed artillery for the first time. Then followed the rapid growth of the effectiveness and lethality of weapons on land, sea and air which, with the impact of modern technology, has given rise to the to the vast array of sophisticated weapons in use today. Modern Weapons and Warfare traces the development of weaponry over the last 300 years, from the Napoleonic Wars up to present day crises like The Gulf War. ... Read more