Tag Archives: World History

Baffling Behavior in the Past Series

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The Baffling Behavior in the Past series includes the titles Life in Ancient Rome, Life in Ancient Greece, Life in Ancient Egypt, and Life in the Viking Age. This is an incredibly engaging nonfiction collection for young readers. Each book is organized into double-page spreads that focus on specific topics, and this makes the content accessible and inviting. The table of contents allows students to easily locate information, while the layout also supports readers who prefer to flip to a random page and immediately find something interesting.

One of the strengths of the series is its balance of detailed information and kid-friendly appeal. Topics such as beauty routines, pets, gods, and battles are naturally engaging for elementary-aged readers but also provide detailed information about the time period. The authors clearly selected these topics both to provide important background knowledge and to hook kids with fun memorable details.

The visual presentation of this series is another strength. Each spread typically includes four short text sections, which helps prevent young readers from feeling overwhelmed by large blocks of text. Potential new vocabulary words are highlighted in bold and explained in a glossary. The books also feature a strong selection of visuals, with each spread containing at least two high-quality images, and many containing additional smaller images or added graphics. Additional resources at the back of each book, including an index, suggested further reading, and a QR code for extended learning, make this series especially useful for both independent exploration and research. Overall, the Baffling Behavior in the Past series is an excellent choice for mid- to upper-elementary students, combining approachable text, engaging topics, and strong visual support to bring ancient history to life.

Surviving a Shipwreck: the Titanic

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Surviving a Shipwreck: the Titanic is a narrative nonfiction following the timeline of the sinking of the Titanic, from its launch and sinking in 1912 to its discovery in 1985. The book begins with a hook on the first page – a single paragraph detailing the moments after the ship struck the iceberg. Text is interspersed with historical captioned photos to move the reader through the maiden voyage and sinking as well as the rescue and eventual changes in law (United States and Great Britain) concerning safety measures so that this type of disaster would never occur again.

Typical nonfiction features – table of contents, index, glossary, source notes and so forth are present in this book. An interesting diagram of the sinking itself, from hitting the iceberg to the ship breaking in half and sinking in two pieces is included. Another interesting addition is the short biography of Margaret Brown, who tirelessly aided her fellow passengers as they loaded lifeboats, went on board the Carpathia and later when they got to New York. One last page of note is the guide to surviving disasters with steps to take to keep safe in the unlikely event of a ship sinking.

Pair this book with some of the newer fictional stories about the Titanic to give students more history about the event. Surviving a Shipwreck: the Titanic will be a riveting read for your upper elementary readers and a nice addition to the nonfiction about the event.

At Home in Her Tomb: Lady Dai and the Ancient Chinese Treasures of Mawangdui

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In the 1970s, workers digging to build an air raid shelter in China struck white clay and pockets of methane gas, leading to the discovery of the most well-preserved mummy discovered in the world. Three tombs were found, and inside one of them was a set of nesting coffins that contained the remains of a Chinese noblewoman, so well-preserved  that her skin was still moist, her joints were still pliable and her fingerprints were still clear. Each chapter begins with a fictional account of a moment in Lady Dai’s life, followed by more information about her burial, tomb or what was found inside. The illustrations and photographs are incredible. There are sidebars, a timeline and glossary and a list of sources. The book is visually stunning and absolutely fascinating.

Warsaw, Lodz, Vilna: The Holocaust Ghettos

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Part of the Remembering the Holocaust series, this volume focuses on the first phase of Hitler’s plan to achieve the Final Solution. After the successful invasion of Poland, the Jews were to be “concentrated” in designated areas. The author describes the way the ghettos were governed, what daily life was like for the residents of the ghettos and more. Events were set in motion by Operation Barbarossa that changed the way the Nazis dealt with Jews; Russian Jews were not deported, they were slaughtered immediately. This edition goes on to describe the problems of disease and starvation in the ghettos, the Jews who hid or fought back and individual stories of courage. It ends with a timeline, glossary and a list of resources for more information.

Line of Fire: Diary of an Unknown Soldier August, September 1914

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As Barroux was walking through Paris, he found a diary in a heap of trash. It was the diary of a soldier serving during  World War I. Barroux retrieved the diary and illustrated the soldier’s story. Much of the account is about boredom, waiting, digging, death and noise. Occasionally the soldier remembers something about home and family. But mostly he wonders where they will find shelter, where the war is, when he will get mail; it is a very realistic if depressing look at the Great War. Barroux’s illustrations are as stark as the diary entries. No one knows who wrote the diary or what happened to him. Those interested in WWI, history, or graphic novels should find this interesting.

The Arab-Israeli Six-Day War

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Recently a group named Hamas, located in the Gaza Strip, and the nation of Israel engaged in prolonged exchanges of rocket attacks and air strikes.  A series of “ceasefires” did nothing to assuage the violence.  This military tit-for-tat response has its roots in the results of what historians refer to as the Arab-Israeli Six-Day War and which is the topic of a new book (by the same name) in the “Perspectives on Modern World History” series.

The 1967 Six Day pitted Israel against Egypt, Syria, and Jordan.  In that short conflict Israel defeated all three and took land from each.  The land taken from Jordan, the West Bank (of the Jordan River) and East Jerusalem were inhabited by Palestinians, a Moslem ethnic group.  Israel won the war, but has been unable to win the peace, mainly because of their inability to figure out what to do with the Palestinians.  This Israeli victory on the battlefield has spawned numerous negotiations, an occasional agreement, and Palestinian anger which nurtured terrorism.

“The Arab-Israeli Six-Day War” is a collection of essays examining in detail the causes, miscalculations, and results of that short-lived conflict.  The book begins with a short chronology of events leading to war, the war, and its results.  The intent of the essays is to provide different perspectives on the major questions which still dominate the debate.  For instance, was Israel’ pre-emptive attack on it neighbors justified?  Abba Eban, Israel’s Ambassador to the U.N. at the time, builds a case for war.  Another essay contends that Israel, militarily, had nothing to fear.  “The Postwar Occupation Provided Many Benefits to Palestinians as Well as Israeli” is countered a short piece written by a Palestinian, “Israel’s Postwar Occupations Imposed Harsh Conditions on Palestinians.”

A couple of essays touch on the subject of how to unravel this complicated issue, but one comes to understand how national myths and bravado, domestic politics, and the international political scene make reasonable men seek solace in armed confrontations.

This volume provides an excellent introduction for someone new to the subject, relying on historical facts wrapped in competing perspectives.

(Submitted by the Washington State Civics Educator of the Year, Ed Bergh)

The Home Fronts in World War I

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This reference geared for upper elementary grades illustrates not the battles and campaigns of WWI but what life was like for those not engaged in battle. The chapters are short; each chapter answers a question, such as “Did Civilians Face Attacks?” or “What Was Life Like for Children?” Photographs and sidebars cover most of the pages; the book is more about sound bites than expansive information.  One of the recurring sidebars is “In Their Own Words,” excerpts from primary sources; another is short biographical sketches of important individuals. Information on propaganda and posters were included. I was most surprised by the fact the home fronts of many countries, not just the U.S., were covered. The book concludes with a timeline, glossary and list of resources for more information. This could be a useful introduction to this aspect of WWI for elementary students.

Darkness Everywhere: The Assassination of Mohandas Gandhi

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While this book does provide a biography of Gandhi, it does not focus solely on his life. Half of the book provides the history of the group of conspirators who plotted and carried out the execution of “Mahatmaji.” Gandhi’s evolution as a proponent of nonviolent civil disobedience, from his time in South Africa to his return to British-controlled India, is juxtaposed with the growing movement for a Hindu controlled India. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was the leader of a group of Hindu nationalists who saw Gandhi’s vision of an independent India with freedom for both Muslims and Hindus as a betrayal of all Hindus. One of Savarkar’s followers, Nathuram Godse, decided that there was only one way to prevent Gandhi from further weakening India: Gandhi had to die, and Godse was willing to implement the solution. The book follows the conspirators through the assassination and the trial, and wraps up with more about Gandhi’s message and others who were inspired to action by it. The book is colorful; it includes many interesting sidebars, photos, and direct quotations from the major players in the events that occurred. Prime Minister Nehru’s speech to his nation after the assassination of Gandhi is included along with a few good ideas for a lesson connected to the speech. The book concludes with a timeline, a who’s who section with short biographies, a very short glossary, and a list of resources for further information. I see many uses for this book in the classroom to support both history and English curriculums and I highly recommend it.