Expanding a Nation

November 1, 2013

Gr 4-6-These well-organized, clearly written books share a format with an introduction followed by a chapter that describes the causes of the topic in numbered sections. The next chapter provides details about the event or movement, and a final chapter discusses its effects on American history for the nation as a whole and for specific ethnic and social groups, again in numbered sections. Designed to align with the Common Core standards, this format works well, allowing authors to provide background and context and explain cause and effect in a way that students will easily understand. Books are objective, staying within mainstream historical opinion and offering numerous points of view, including those of political, regional, and ethnic groups such as Native Americans. Large color illustrations and maps and occasional sidebars supplement the texts. Terms are defined on the pages on which they are first used. A "Common Core" quiz at the end of each book prompts students to use critical-thinking and writing skills to analyze the text. Although these topics have wide extant coverage and these books don't introduce new material, their main strength is in the clarity of the logical format, a more textbooklike format that is becoming more common in sets such as Lerner's "Six Questions of American History." These books are effective introductions that will improve student understanding and research skills, making them a good choice for early middle level readers.-Mary Mueller, Rolla Public Schools, MO

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