April 1, 2016
Gr 3-5-This is a fine set for confident early to middle grade readers servicing both recreational reading and assignment purposes. Each subject comes alive with simple, clear sentences covering childhood and life accomplishments. The overall design is eye-catching with large fonts, numerous excellent photos, and colorful sidebars. Vocabulary words are bolded and defined on the same spread in a "Vocabulary Box." Despite the serious content of some of these subjects, the tone remains light and focused on conveying the information in an accessible way. In Anne Frank, the description of an Anne Frank House tour includes an observation on the purpose of asking visitors questions at the end of every tour-"This process allows the heart to rest while the brain takes over," a valuable concept and tool for children who might have trouble ingesting heavy historical stories. VERDICT Strong additions, particularly Anne Frank, Dr. Seuss, and Walt Disney.
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