Scholastic Encyclopedia Of The US At War (updated For 2003) - Softcover

This newest offering from Scholastic joins their other one-volume encyclopedias aimed at students in the upper-elementary and middle-school grades, including Scholastic Encyclopedia of Sports in the United States [RBB N 15 97] and Scholastic Encyclopedia of Women in the United States [RBB N 15 96]. Like others in the series, it features an attractive oversize format, and includes numerous illustrations, boxed inserts, maps, time lines, and judicious use of color highlighting and bold print. A two-page introduction briefly summarizes the major conflicts that have affected the U.S., and ends with a statement regarding the costs of war and a chart of casualty figures. This is followed by 11 independent chapters, each devoted to a specific conflict, ranging from the American Revolution to the Gulf War. The longest chapters deal with the Civil War and World War II, the shortest with the Spanish-American War. Each chapter is color-coded, making access easier. A detailed index completes the volume.

Chapters follow a basic format. "Prelude to War," which creates the historical setting and defines major issues, is followed by subsections presenting major developments, including first and last confrontations, pivotal incidents, campaigns, personalities, the home front, public reaction, and so on. Each chapter ends with a description of the aftermath, which details consequences and lasting impacts of the conflict. Scattered throughout the basic narratives are all sorts of additional information: excerpts of letters from soldiers at the front, eyewitness civilian accounts, song lyrics, quotations, descriptions of uniforms, analyses of the impact of developing technologies and their affect on both weaponry and medical care, and more than 180 illustrations, including maps, photographs, reproductions of propaganda posters, and political cartoons. There is some coverage of the contributions made by women, whether as nurses, spies, factory workers, or resistance fighters. Segregated units and racial discrimination are discussed, as is the treatment afforded Native Americans, and Japanese American internment in World War II.

Authors English (who has written a number of nonfiction titles for children) and Jones have produced a worthy addition to the series. Recommended as both a curriculum supplement and a browsing selection not only for the intended audience but also for public and secondary collections serving challenged readers and students with limited English proficiency.

Grade 5-8?A lot of information is packed into this volume. The authors begin with the American Revolution and end with the Gulf War. Coverage is fairly extensive, with the chapters on World War II and the Civil War being the longest, and the one on the Spanish-American War the shortest. Each chapter opens with a helpful time line, a map, and an overview; discusses causes, individual battles, new technologies, and the aftermath; and includes maps of battle sites, mostly black-and-white photographs and reproductions, and sidebars that include interesting tidbits and primary accounts. Unfortunately, some of this information is not indexed (e.g., helicopters, airplanes, reporting the war). Documentation or sources are given only for previously published writings. Pages are well laid out, but the colors used for maps, time lines, and headings are generally pale, causing the whole page to blend together. Occasionally, the typeface is very light and some of the subheadings are blurred. Still, this will be helpful to students seeking information and insights on war in a single source.?Peg Glisson, Mendon Center Elementary School, Pittsford, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.