50 Things You Didn't Know about the Middle Ages

April 1, 2020

Gr 2-4-Each browsable title in this series opens with a brief introduction of the featured time period or civilization. Then, a numbered list of facts (1-50), organized by subjects like "Daily Life" and "Gods and Mythology," is presented to readers. The text is clearly written, and the cartoon illustrations allow readers to engage with the text. The author also includes interesting facts. (For example, "Pharaoh Hatshepsut was a woman, but she wore all the same adornments as a male king-including a fake beard.") Some contradictory or possibly misleading statements and typos distract. The majority of the information is available in other current titles. A table of contents, a recommended book and a website list, and an index are in each book. VERDICT The appealing format and humorous illustrations are not enough to warrant purchasing these titles.

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