Reviewed with Elspeth Leacock' and Susan Buckley's Places in Time.Gr. 4-6. A companion to Places in Time, this book frames our country's history in 20 journeys, from the prehistoric migration of the Anishinabe to young Bui Huu Phong's danger-filled escape from Da Nang to Philadelphia. Remarkably, every one of the episodes or incidents is recast from actual historical accounts, usually of an eyewitness or participant. The painted illustrations are also careful reconstructions: either uncluttered maps on which a red line traces each journey, or elevated or cutaway views of the featured places showing accurately rendered landforms, buildings, and even individual rooms. A key matches significant events or locations in pictures and texts, and a box of background facts ends every spread and helps to create a wider perspective. As the source notes show, Leacock and Buckley have drawn their information not just from published documents but from archives and their own interviews as well. A great way to get readers interested in the U.S.'s past and people.

Each book traces twenty people or places in American history. A brief narrative accompanies a double-page location map (tracing the person's routes) or a drawing of the historic site; illustrative vignettes marked with corresponding numbers reference the text. These books hold potential for reinforcing location skills and relationship observations in a pleasant, nonthreatening format. Ind.

Gr 5-8-In the first book, a winning blend of facts, maps, and the drama of a well-written story results in an unusual and exciting view of this country's past. Some of the 20 individuals highlighted are well known, such as Daniel Boone, Ben Franklin, and Louis Armstrong. Others are more obscure, like Dame Shirley, a New England woman in the Gold Rush, and Venture Smith, an enslaved six-year-old African prince. Each double-page spread features an introduction, a story with numbered paragraphs relating to the map or illustration, a fact box, and colorful illustrations. All information is carefully researched and includes many primary resources. Any fictionalizing is marked with single quotation marks, while statements with actual historical evidence have double quotes. The second title uses the same format to present 20 sites in American history at the moment of their historical significance, beginning in 1200 (Cahokia) and ending in 1953. Places and times include New Plymouth-1627, Charlestown-1739, Saratoga-1777, Philadelphia-1787, Abilene-1871, and Chicago-1893. The detailed cutaway views of homes, forts, and mills are impressive enough to keep readers looking again and again. These fascinating slices of life stir the imagination and lead to questions and further research. Neither title has a bibliography, but scholars, historians, libraries, and museums are credited in the notes sections. While the books are perfect for individual perusal, educators will delight in the curriculum potential.-Pamela K. Bomboy, Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.