The juvenile history of the Battle of Gettysburg (aimed at grade school students) begins with the popular reason for the battle happening where it did: that Confederate troops were looking for shoes in the small Pennsylvania town that simply were not there. Author Michael Burgan makes the argument that both Lee and Meade anticipated there would be a battle in the area of Gettysburg, and while the fact that the small town was at an intersection of major crossroads that would allow the two armies eight different routes in and out of the area, my understanding has always been that the battle happened there mostly by happenstance. After providing a concise explanation for the causes of the Civil War, Burgan details what how Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, now under the commander of George Meade, came to be where they were on the eve of battle. The battle itself is divided into three chapters, each covering the key military engagements for the three days the battle took place in July 1863. The final chapter of this small volume looks at the aftermath of the battle, both in terms of what happened to the two armies but also the creation of the National Cemetery and the famous speech given at its dedication by President Lincoln.

Burgan does a nice job of presenting the overall strategy of the battle, while still taking time to flesh out the key moments with details, such as choice quotations from key participants. This We the People volume is illustrated with historic photographs, paintings, etchings and the like. However, except for a map of the area from the Susquehanna to the Potomac, there is not a map of the actual town of Gettysburg and surrounding environs on which the battle was fought. I do not think I have ever seen a book about a Civil War battle that did not include a map of the battlefield. Consequently, young readers forego the opportunity to see the infamous "fishhook" defined by the Union defensive position from Culp's Hill in the north, along Cemetery Ridge, down to the Round Tops. More than most Civil War battles, Gettysburg benefits from having a clear understanding of the geography because it played such a vital role in what happened from start to finish.

I have been reading over several juvenile histories about the Declaration of Independence and this volume in the We the People series by Michael Burgan is probably the best of the bunch. All of these volumes look at much more than just the writing and adoption of the Declaration, in an effort to put it into the context of the American revolution. Burgan's book has the virtue of beginning with the adoption of Richard Henry Lee's resolution for independency by the Second Continental Congress. Burgan then goes back to the roots of the struggle between the Colonies and the British Crown, focuses specifically on the issues that would manifest themselves in the Declaration of Independence. Consequently, there is a stronger sense of contextualization in this particular volume.

Additionally, Burgan not only works in some of the more interesting details about the writing of the Declaration, he also provides more analysis of the document itself than I have found in similar volumes. He also touches upon some of the debate that surrounded the adoption of the Declaration, which serves to show young readers that politics were as contentious at the birth of the nation as they are today. So, while "The Declaration of Independence" remains an introductory text for this particular topic, Burgan does do a better job of setting up a foundation for future readings.

The book is illustrated with historic etchings and drawings of most of the main figures and key events, and I give the editors crediting for including a picture of John Dickinson, who spoke out against independence, along with the requisite pictures of the various Founding Fathers. The back of this volume includes a glossary, some Did You Know? trivia about the history of the document, and various research aids (but does not include a copy of the text). The We the People series is one of the better collection of supplementary history texts for grade school students and teachers.

I am currently working my way through various juvenile biographies of the Presidents in alphabetical order and the Profiles of the Presidents series has carved out a niche as the best volumes for young readers to be introduced to the occupants of the White House. This look at Franklin D. Roosevelt by Michael Burgan provides a solid introduction to the wheelchair-bound president who optimistically led the United States through more than a decade of economic, social, and political problems. After establishing FDR as "A President with Hope," Burgan provides the standard biography of Roosevelt's rich childhood, his early involvement in politics, and the polio that paralyzed his legs. From that point on the book is organized more by national events: the Great Depression, the New Deal, and World War II. Burgan does a nice job of explaining how FDR responded to each of these challenges and underscores that it was this President who changed the role of the president and the role of the government in people's lives.

The Profiles of the Presidents series goes from George Washington to George W. Bush and each book features a glossary, fast facts about the president, a parallel timeline of world and presidential events, an index, and other resourcs intended to help young students better understand the life and times of each president. The books are lavishly illustrated and even the black & white photographs sometimes have golden frames around them to keep the look of the book up to date, which it proves with the final photo of the statues of FDR and his dog, Fala, that are part of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial on the Mall in Washington, D.C. The result is another solid effort in a fine series. Young students can get more information about FDR from other books later in their education, but this would be the ideal choice for their first book about the man who was elected President of the United States four times.

This is a nice little book on "The Great Depression" that Michael Burgan has written for the We the People series. Burgan describes this period as "American Hits Bottom" and makes it clear up front that the Great Depression did not end until World War II and that its main legacy is changing how the U.S. government works and what it does to help the poor. I was impressed that when Burgan puts this period in historical perspective he goes back to the Roaring Twenties and the philosophy of President Calvin Coolidge to let business have free reign. He also details the "Dark Side of the Boom" that made the collapse of the Stock Market almost inevitable. This book covers not only the inadequacies of President Herbert Hoover's responses to the crisis but also how the First and Second New Deals of President Franklin Roosevelt had limited success as the Dust Bowl made things worse. I also liked how Burgan extends the impact of the Depression to Europe, where the Fascist leaders Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler were able to take advantage of the situation in Italy and Germany in their quests to expand their power. If anything, I think this juvenile history may well have too much information and detail in terms of the age group for which it is apparently written (admittedly, my assumption is based on font size). This book is illustrated with historic photographs as well as newspaper ads, banner headlines, and posters. I have seen American History textbooks that do not provide as much information as does Burgan in this splendid little volume.

The Profiles of the Presidents series is a superb collection of introductory juvenile biographies for young students, which I think is around the halfway mark in terms of covering everyone from Washington to Bush the Younger. Ironically, it is because of the current resident of the White House that John Quincy Adams has received more attention in recent years. After all, the parallels are extraordinary: both men are the only sons of Presidents to be elected to the office, they both have the same first name but different middle names, and they both lost the popular vote in their first election. Will the parallel continue in 2004? Well, no: because while every other President who was elected with less of the popular vote lost their bid for re-election they both (John Quincy Adams and Benjamin Harrison) lost in rematches with the opponents who won the popular vote (Andrew Jackson and Grover Cleveland) and that is not going to happen this time because Al Gore did "Saturday Night Live" and disappeared into the sunset.

Michael Burgan begins this book by establishing the idea that the story of John Quincy Adams is that of "A Lifetime of Service." Where Adams is most unique is that there he continued to serve his country after his four difficult years in the White House, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and becoming known as "Old Man Eloquent" for his attacks on slavery (touched on in Steven Spielberg's film "Amistad"). Burgan deals with the problems of being the son of a President but also goes into detail on the extraordinary diplomat career both abroad and at home. The end result is the inevitable conclusion that even if he had not been elected President the life and political career of John Quincy Adams should be remembered.

In addition to the concise but detailed biography, this volume is profusely illustrated with historic etchings, paintings, and maps. Even when the illustrations are black & white they often end up with colored frames, showing the premium placed by the editors on having an eye-catching book. In the back of the book you will find a glossary, fast facts about Adams, a parallel timeline of world and presidential events, extensive resources to help young students better understand the life and times of this particular president, and a decent index. The Profiles of the Presidents series is excellent and Michael Burgan's look at "John Quincy Adams" is one of the best to date.

Most American History textbooks make it clear that the most important accomplishment of the Presidency of Thomas Jefferson was making the Louisiana Purchase. Ironically, as this "We the People" volume by Michael Burgan explains, it was more a question of Jefferson endorsing (whole heartedly) the unauthorized decision of James Monroe and Robert Livingston to make the deal. The American representatives had been ordered to buy New Orleans and Florida for $10 million and were surprised when the French asked how much the United States would "give for the whole." What I like best about Burgan's account is that unlike most versions, which tend to focus on what happened after the purchase in terms of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Manifest Destiny, and the nation extending to the Pacific, this book focuses more on the actual negotiations and the delicate situation before hand, while still talking about the expedition in the last couple of pages. Specifically, Burgan covers the dispute between Spain and the U.S. over the navigation of the Mississippi River, which was then the western boundary of the new nation. Consequently, Burgan does provide a significantly different perspective than you often find on juvenile histories dealing with this particular topic. This volume is illustrated with historic etchings, paintings, and maps, including a full-page illustration of the harsh life of slaves on Santo Domingo's sugar plantations. This might seem odd in a book talking about the Louisiana Purchase, but this happens to be a key link in the chain of events that had Napoleon Bonaparte eager to sell Louisiana to the United States.

An excellent, straight-forward guide to who's who in world mythology, complete with illustrations. I couldn't have written my book without it! However, it does not give a complete listing of all lesser gods, fairies and other devine entities. Only the better known ones.

Something that has always peeked my interest is the stories of ancient gods and the legends of past. The book covers those topics and many more. The amazing entries in this encyclopedia by Anthony Mercatante is nothing short of amazing.

From A to Z you'll find interesting clips about different gods, goddesses, myths, legends, heroes and villains. You find Roman, Greek, Norse, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian traditional portraits of gods, saints and demons all in this 800 plus page book.

Assembled is the most complete set of entries I have ever seen. Am impressive list with an even more impressive explanation of each entry. The author has really done his homework with book. This would make an excellent reference manual for every student and teacher.

Check out Facts on files website for more books in all kinds of categories. While this book is a little on the pricey side, I assure you, you'll be hard pressed to find any book that even comes close to this one, this one is in a class by itself.

Clearly, one of the most concise resources on the subject available. Layout was very good, with defined entries that would help both those serious students of mythology and folklore and the casual observer equally.

Perhaps the best thing to say about this particular resource is that it attempts to present a concise point of reference for the more famous aspects of mythos and legend over the entire span of world culture. The book is not as concise with specifics as some would like, but it does provide a factual representation based upon analysis of the folklore rather than popular culture's influence, and that in itself is worth the price.

In the adventure novel of "Don Quixote", a man named Alanso Quixano, dreams of becoming a knight. The only problem is that there haven't been any knights around for many years. Into the mind of Alanso comes the character named Don Quixote of La Mancha, a knight. Along with his squire Sancho Panza, and his trusty horse Rocinante, he sets out on an adventure, honoring and telling of Don Quixote's love, Dolcinea del Toboso. Along his way, Don Quixote mistakes fantasy for reality. Don Quixote fights for the honor of his love, Dolcinea. Miguel De Cervantes Saavedra establishes a great deal of honor throughout book. Don Quixote, is honoring his love for Dolcinea del Toboso by fighing every battle for her honor.

Cervantes establishes the theme of differences between reality and fantasy throughout the book. In Alanso's mind what is happening to him is happening to Don Quixote. Alasno can't decipher the difference between reality and fantasy. All the other characters in the book know the difference between reality and fantasy and know Alanso is living a fantasy. Through this contrast between reality and fantasy we discover that sometimes we have to fight no matter what the consequence.

I recently read the first part of Don Quixote, and I have to say that I was expecting a real snoozer. And I have to admit that, yes, Cervantes does drag on a bit. But critics of the novel's length are doing the work a misservice. We must remember that this book was written well over four centuries ago, when the very concept of a linked narrative must have been more than enough to hold the reader's interest. Cervantes's energy sizzles off the page at times, and you can tell he's really having fun with the work. I loved almost everything about this book, and while I might have liked to see it trimmed a bit, I still think Cervantes did a bang up job. Oh. One more thing. I lot of people seem to like Sancho more than Quixote. I'm totally the opposite. Quixote is the dreamer, the one who dares to look at things that never were and say " They might be giants ". I for one think thats boss.

What Monte Python did for the King Arthur legend in their movie "The Search for the Holy Grail", Cervantes did four hundred years ealier with the entire medieval knighthood tradition of chivalry and fighting. If you read some of the original stories about "knights errant", such as Le Morte d'Arthur, you can appreciate to a greater degree Cervantes fine parody. If you can read Spanish (and I can't) you will also enjoy Cervantes puns throughout the text. I laughed myself silly while reading this. Don Quixote is as ridiculous in the adventures he undertakes while looking for his fair lady, Dulcinea, as his shrewd squire Sancho Panza is comically pragmatic. Together they make an interesting pair. It's true this is a rather long novel, but the rewards of humor (and occasional wise comments from Sancho) are well worth the time.

I liked this book a lot. I liked that there are pictures and there are definishions for words that you may not know. There are also parts where wishbone tells you about things. He tells you about places and interesting facts that go along with the book. The scientist that makes the monster has to go and find it because it is killing people.