World War I for Kids: A History with 21 Activities

Gr 4–8—In the introduction, the author explains that when studying wars, looking at winners and losers is less crucial than examining the overall effects. This book does so in an organized, thorough, and accessible fashion. It also covers causes, public reaction, war tactics, animals on the battlefield, the role of women and African Americans, the daily life of soldiers, and more. Occasional sidebars highlight tangential information, such as an excerpt from a soldier's letter, a mini-bio of nurse Edith Cavell, and so on. Though there are a variety of related activities described (training a dog to carry messages, making a model gas mask out of cardboard and bubble wrap, reading a World War I—era adventure novel), they are questionable in their educational usefulness, feasibility, or desirability. Throughout, readers will find a plethora of black-and-white archival photographs reflecting the diverse aspects of World War I: battles at sea, in the air, and on the ground; soldiers in trenches; key military men and politicians; and so on. The gruesome nature of a few of the images might be tough viewing for some young readers, such as a photo depicting a dead soldier tangled up in a barbed wire trap. An engaging start for students learning about World War I.—Jennifer Prince, Buncombe County Public Libraries, NC