Young Heroes of the North and South

March 1, 2006
Gr 4-6 -"Cobblestone" magazine has long been known for its excellent coverage of historical topics. These three books are comprised of articles appearing in both "Cobblestone" and "Appleseeds" and maintain the reputation for quality, interest, and clarity. The volumes cover narrow topics in a remarkably in-depth manner given their relative brevity. "Lincoln", for example, is divided into 13 sections, ranging in length from one to six pages. Coverage is given to Lincoln -s childhood and courtship of Mary Todd; his family life; the politics surrounding the Civil War (including a lucid and compelling discussion of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the impact of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dred Scott decision); Lincoln -s personality and character; the steps he took to create a stronger nation; his assassination; and the various acts of homage to him. Pages are arranged so that the numerous illustrations and sidebars do not distract from the blocks of text. The period illustrations and photos are well placed and extend the text beautifully, and the central map presents the United States, as it existed between 1861 and 1865, with Confederate and Union states noted, as well as territories, battlefields, cities, state capitols, and other important locations. Similar in content and subject matter to books in the -We the People - series (Compass Point) dealing with the Civil War, these books are superior in both the quality of the text and the illustrations. These excellent introductory titles could be expanded by referring students to Russell Freedman -s "Lincoln: A Photobiography" (1987) or Jim Murphy -s "The Boys - War" (1990, both Clarion)." -Ann Welton, Grant Elementary School, Tacoma, WA"

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