School Library Journal Review
Gr 6-8-These biographies are colorfully illustrated but superficial and frequently unclear. They are poorly written, with an overuse of the passive voice and considerable repetition. The authors often fail to distinguish between supposition and fact, and there are many errors and omissions. Both maps and glossaries are incomplete, with the maps excluding numerous places referred to in the texts. Nothing else is available on William the Conqueror or Thomas Becket. Polly Schoyer Brooks's Queen Eleanor (Houghton, 1999) is both detailed and interesting.-Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 7-10. When Columbus landed in Hispaniola in 1492, there were more than 800 tribes and an estimated 100 million to 145 million people living in the Americas. The American Indian Contributions to the World series highlights the knowledge, accomplishments, and cultural practices of those groups. This title describes the extensive trade networks that existed throughout the Americas and the systems of roads and trails that facilitated travel. Sports, games, military tactics, and government are also covered in this volume. Black-and-white drawings, photos, and maps complement the detailed text, and boxed features offer interesting notes and explanations. Because contributions of Native Americans are often disregarded--or minimized--in social studies and history textbooks, the solid titles in this series make valuable, necessary reading for both teachers and students of American history. A glossary, a list of tribes, maps, and a reading list are appended. --Gillian Engberg Copyright 2005 Booklist
