The Johnstown Flood

April 1, 2014

Gr 3-5-This series is perfect. Not only does each title explain clearly and concisely a specific crisis in American history, but it also details how each was resolved and how it impacted people and places for generations to come. In the Johnstown Flood title, for instance, the author explains how the social hierarchy and industrial importance of Johnstown influenced how the 1889 disaster was remedied. In addition, the author links those issues to future Johnstown floods and the 2005 flooding of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. Colorful time lines and sidebars are used throughout each title and complement the accompanying text. Quotes from eyewitnesses are used liberally and add drama and immediacy to the narrative. At least one illustration appears on every page. Most of the images consist of archival photographs, all of which complement the text. A bonus is that new or challenging words are defined on the page as well as in the glossary.

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