World history is not necessarily a hot topic for many young readers, so when writers and publishers hit upon a riveting combination of information and presentation of such subject matter, it's noteworthy. Some of these series find that magic mix of enlightenment and enjoyment that attracts a youthful audience. Covering from Victorian England to video games, most of these volumes are a ticket to ride on the journey through the fascinating history of humankind.

Preschool - Grade 4

GUILLAIN, Charlotte. Music: From the Voice to Electronica. ISBN 978-1-4329-3808-6; ISBN 978-1-4329-3816-1. LC 2009049024. MILES, Liz. Clothes: From Fur to Fair Trade. ISBN 978-1-4329-3803-1; ISBN 978-1-4329-3811-6. LC 2009048959. ————. Games: From Dice to Gaming. ISBN 978-1-4329-3807-9; ISBN 978-1-4329-3815-4. LC 2009049022. ————. Sports: From Ancient Olympics to the Super Bowl. ISBN 978-1-4329-3805-5; ISBN 978-1-4329-3813-0. LC 2009048963. RAUM, Elizabeth. Homes: From Caves to Eco-Pods. ISBN 978-1-4329-3802-4; ISBN 978-1-4329-3810-9. LC 2009048949. ————. Transportation: From Walking to High-Speed Rail. ISBN 978-1-4329-3804-8; ISBN 978-1-4329-3812-3. LC 2009048960. ————. Work: From Plows to Robots. ISBN 978-1-4329-3806-2; ISBN 978-1-4329-3814-7. LC 2009049021. ea vol: 32p. (Timeline History Series). map. photos. reprods. chron. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Heinemann Library. 2010. PLB $21.50; pap. $7.99. Gr 3-5—What should be a tasty buffet of tidbits about seven different cultural markers is a sloppy, unappetizing mess. Each spread has a title, but the content does not always match. In Transportation, for example, stagecoaches are discussed in a section on dangers at sea. The fact blurbs are interesting, perhaps due to their extreme brevity. They are also scattershot; covering five centuries with just five factoids doesn't cut it. A second time line, at the bottom of each page, showing the range of years covered in the time line above, is unnecessary. Pass on these.

Grades 5 and Up

ARONIN, Miriam. Tuberculosis: The White Plague! chart. map. ISBN 978-1-936088-06-5; ISBN 978-1-936088-92-8. LC 2010010679. CAPER, William. Typhoid Fever: Dirty Food, Dirty Water! maps. ISBN 978-1-936088-04-1; ISBN 978-1-936088-93-5. LC 2010005828. PERSON, Stephen. Bubonic Plague: The Black Death! chart. maps. ISBN 978-1-936088-03-4; ISBN 978-1-936088-88-1. LC 2010008028. ————. Malaria: Super Killer! maps. ISBN 978-1-936088-07-2; ISBN 978-1-936088-89-8. LC 2010012018. REINGOLD, Adam. Smallpox: Is It Over? maps. ISBN 978-1-936088-02-7; ISBN 978-1-936088-90-4. LC 2010009371. RUDOLPH, Jessica. The Flu of 1918: Millions Dead Worldwide! map. ISBN 978-1-936088-05-8; ISBN 978-1-936088-91-1. LC 2010004684. ea vol: 32p. (Nightmare Plagues Series). photos. reprods. bibliog. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Bearport. 2010. PLB $25.27; ebook $25.27. Gr 4-7—This series provides some historical information such as Hippocrates' identification of TB as the most common disease in the world (Tuberculosis), and several spreads in Typhoid on the search for the infamous Mary Mallon. In contrast to Rosen's "Epidemics and Society," though, the books focus more on the signs of different epidemic diseases, how they are spread, and methods of treatment, making the volume of information less unwieldy. The writing is accessible and interspersed with interesting photographs and fact boxes. It is trendy at the moment to hype the "yuck" factor, but these books simply rely on an honest discussion of the diseases, which still does the trick. These are effective, easily navigated introductions to the physiology of contagious illnesses.

BAILEY, Diane. Cholera. ISBN 978-1-4358-9437-2. LC 2009046610. ————. The Plague. ISBN 978-1-4358-9435-8. LC 2009046614. FURGANG, Adam. Smallpox. ISBN 978-1-4358-9432-7. LC 2009046605. JONES, Molly. AIDS. ISBN 978-1-4358-9434-1. LC 2009040246. ORR, Tamra B. Polio. ISBN 978-1-4358-9436-5. LC 2009045562. STIMOLA, Aubrey. Ebola. ISBN 978-1-4358-9433-4. LC 2009043451. ea vol: 80p. (Epidemics and Society Series). illus. photos. reprods. bibliog. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Rosen. 2010. PLB $30.60. Gr 7 Up—These ambitious books address symptoms, means of contagion, and management of epidemics, as well as their impacts—economic, cultural, and historical—in fewer than 70 pages. Consequently, there is a rushed presentation of some information. Bailey, in particular, oversimplifies some of the material in Plague. She also relies heavily on personification, portraying the plague as a creeping beast with a long reach—effective when tried once, but used again in Cholera, it's overkill. A lot of information flies at readers in this series, but upon careful reading there is solid research material to be had.

BESEL, Jennifer M. The Captivating, Creative, Unusual History of Comic Books. chart. illus. ISBN 978-1-4296-4790-8. LC 2010011665. KAELBERER, Angie Peterson. The Fabulous, Freaky, Unusual History of Wrestling. charts. illus. ISBN 978-1-4296-4789-2. LC 2010014596. SHERMAN, Patrice. The Electrifying, Action-Packed, Unusual History of Video Games. chart. illus. ISBN 978-1-4296-4792-2. LC 2010014611. ————. The Secret, Mystifying, Unusual History of Magic. ISBN 978-1-4296-4791-5. LC 2010012357. ea vol: 48p. (Velocity: Unusual Histories Series). photos. reprods. chron. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Capstone. 2010. PLB $30.65. Gr 4 Up—This series is a highly entertaining showcase of factoids set against a backdrop of rich graphics. What could easily become a gaudy presentation of silly information is an impressive production of cool artwork and bits of knowledge that will fascinate browsers of all ages. The one quibble: Kaelberer pretends to believe that pro wrestling is a real sport, failing to explain that the wrestlers' feuds are scripted and their moves choreographed, thus presenting a somewhat misleading account, especially for the younger set.

CUNNINGHAM, Kevin. The Americas Before 1492. 128p. map. glossary. ISBN 978-1-59935-143-8. LC 2010017974. NARDO, Dan. Early River Civilizations. 112p. map. glossary. ISBN 978-1-59935-140-7. LC 2010008693. ————. The European Colonization of Africa. 112p. maps. ISBN 978-1-59935-142-1. LC 2010008689. ————. The European Exploration of America. 112p. maps. ISBN 978-1-59935-141-4. LC 2010008691. ea vol: (World History Series). photos. reprods. bibliog. chron. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. Morgan Reynolds. 2010. PLB $28.95. Gr 9 Up—Solid historical accounts are threaded together by the theme of societal clashes, as one group sought—often violently—to dominate another. The pages resemble aged parchment, and the text mingles with distinguished photography and artwork and dark-red sidebar boxes, lending a stately seriousness that mirrors the somber intensity of these pivotal events in history. These are strong resources for reports, showing the underbelly of events still sugarcoated in some U.S. lesson plans.

EDGE, Laura B. We Stand as One: The International Ladies Garment Workers Strike, New York, 1909. ISBN 978-0-7613-4609-8. ISBN 978-0-7613-6353-8. LC 2009049345. HERR, Melody. Sitting for Equal Service: Lunch Counter Sit-Ins, United States, 1960s. map. ISBN 978-0-8225-8970-9. ISBN 978-0-7613-6356-9. LC 2009049129. KALLEN, Stuart A. Open the Jail Doors—We Want to Enter: The Defiance Campaign Against Apartheid Laws. maps. ISBN 978-0-8225-8969-3. ISBN 978-0-7613-6351-4. LC 2009042436. ————. We are Not Beasts of Burden: Cesar Chavez and the Delano Grape Strike. map. ISBN 978-0-7613-4608-1. ISBN 978-0-7613-6352-1. LC 2009017435. KERNS, Ann. Who Will Shout if Not Us?: Student Activists and the Tiananmen Square Protest, China, 1989. map. ISBN 978-0-8225-8971-6. ISBN 978-0-7613-6355-2. LC 2009049133. KUHN, Betsy. The Force Born of Truth: Mohandas Gandhi and the Salt March, India, 1930. maps. ISBN 978-0-8225-8968-6. ISBN 978-0-7613-6354-5. LC 2009049127. ea vol: 160p. (Civil Rights Struggles Around the World Series). photos. reprods. bibliog. chron. further reading. glossary. index. notes. Web sites. 21st Century Bks. 2010. PLB $38.60. ebook $28.95. Gr 9 Up—These volumes are a treasure trove of information about the fight for civil rights across time and the globe. From the uprising of 20,000 American garment workers to Gandhi's 241-mile Salt March, the suppressed demonstrate again and again their will to defeat their suppressors with dignity. The books are an effective combination of facts, fine photographs, and interesting quotes and excerpts from relevant documents. Perhaps most important in inspiring a young audience, the texts contain a poignant personal element that takes these historic milestones to an intimate, emotional level. The cruelty with which humans can treat one another is unflinchingly presented but the extraordinary grace exhibited in the face of it rises to the top.

HEINRICHS, Ann. Voices of World War I: Stories from the Trenches. ISBN 978-1-4296-4737-3. LC 2010000995. HUEY, Lois Miner. Voices of the American Revolution: Stories from the Battlefields. illus. ISBN 978-1-4296-4739-7. LC 2010000997. ————. Voices of World War II: Stories from the Front Lines. ISBN 978-1-4296-4738-0. LC 2010003661. NEMETH, Jason D. Voices of the Civil War: Stories from the Battlefields. illus. ISBN 978-1-4296-4736-6. LC 2010006604. ea vol: 32p. (Voices of War Series). map. photos. reprods. bibliog. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Capstone. 2010. PLB $26.65. Gr 4-6—These books don't quite live up to their billing as "engaging…first-hand accounts" of individuals directly involved in the conflicts. Dark colors, bold fonts, and battlefield artwork and photography suggest compelling content, but the writing just doesn't deliver. It's surprisingly flat and disengaged, failing to convey wartime emotions, and the profiles of, for example, U.S. Army captain Eddie Rickenbacker and Russian peasant Maria Botchkareva in World War I, are superficial and abbreviated. These books might serve some low-level readers just coming to the subject matter, but they, too, will likely feel frustrated at the lack of in-depth, interesting information on these people who deserve better copy than they get here.

SCHOMP, Virginia. The Church. ISBN 978-1-60870-031-8; ISBN 978-1-60870-354-8. LC 2010006901. ————. The City. ISBN 978-1-60870-029-5; ISBN 978-1-60870-352-4. LC 2009036710. ————. The Countryside. ISBN 978-1-60870-030-1; ISBN 978-1-60870-353-1. LC 2010006902. ————. Victoria and Her Court. ISBN 978-1-60870-028-8; ISBN 978-1-60870-351-7. LC 2009029688. ea vol: 80p. (Life in Victorian England Series). photos. reprods. bibliog. further reading. glossary. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. Marshall Cavendish/Benchmark. 2010. PLB $23.95; ebook $34.21. Gr 5-8—Each volume is a resplendent package of solid report material and elegant aesthetics. Chapters begin with a spectacular, full-bleed period painting or photograph relating to the content, and more such artwork is interspersed within the text, which is spaced appealingly and laid out between wide margins on creamy paper. The narratives cover a lot of ground but with graceful steps. These books have great information for reports, and they will no doubt draw in budding Anglophiles wishing to browse, as well.

The Bottom Line

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Understanding that past people and events—no matter how long ago—still have a great impact on life today is vital to teaching youth that their own actions will affect others in the decades and centuries to come. If history can be kept personal, intimate, and emotional, the connection across time and distance will be respected, valued, and relished. The success that most of these books enjoy lies in the details—the quirky, the painful, and the triumphant. Marshall Cavendish's "Life in Victorian England" is the best of this group. It's followed closely by 21st Century Books's "Civil Rights Struggles Around the World," Capstone's "Velocity: Unusual Histories," Morgan Reynolds's "World History," NewForest Press's "The History of Exploration," and Bearport's "Nightmare Plagues," with Rosen's "Epidemics and Society" rounding out the list. Heinemann's "Timeline Histories" and Capstone's "Voices of War" are additional purchases.