Chicago History for Kids: Triumphs and Tragedies of the Windy City Includes 21 Activities (For Kids series) [Paperback]

Owen Hurd (Author), Gary Johnson (Foreword)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: For Kids series

From the Native Americans who lived in the Chicago area for thousands of years, to the first European explorers Marquette and Jolliet, to the 2005 Chicago White Sox World Series win, parents, teachers, and kids will love this comprehensive and exciting history of how Chicago became the third largest city in the U.S. Chicago’s spectacular and impressive history comes alive through activities such as building a model of the original Ferris Wheel, taking architectural walking tours of the first skyscrapers and Chicago’s oldest landmarks, and making a Chicago-style hotdog. Serving as both a guide to kids and their parents and an engaging tool for teachers, this book details the first Chicagoan Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, the Fort Dearborn Massacre, the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the building of the world’s first skyscraper, and the hosting of two World’s Fairs. In addition to uncovering Windy City treasures such as the birth of the vibrant jazz era of Louis Armstrong and the work of Chicago poets, novelists, and songwriters, kids will also learn about Chicago’s triumphant and tortured sports history. 

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–9—This attractive overview begins with geography and moves to the colorful stories that characterize the city. Hurd tapped local experts and collections, using primary and secondary sources and the responses of young readers to craft this engaging resource. Beginning with the Ice Age, a time line opens each chapter. Projects range from making a miniature glacier or a Ferris wheel to planning a fire-escape route or tracing one's family history. Walking tours offer maps, directions, and such itineraries as "Chicago's Oldest Landmarks" or "Modern Skyscrapers." The success of the 21 projects is uneven, but immensely readable details broaden the events described, such as why the Black Sox were motivated to throw the 1919 World Series. Excellent-quality photos, maps, illustrations, or boxed facts appear on every page. Skimmers can read parts, focus on projects, or pick up information from the short insets that offer relevant details. The bibliography reads like a resource list for Chicago collections with asterisks to distinguish titles for younger readers. Suggested places to visit, helpful Web sites, and a thorough index are also appended. An all-in-one resource, this is a good starting point for project ideas, history, and general information.—Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Designated a Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book for 2007

"A fun, fact-filled tome for our pint-sized history buffs."  —Chicago Social

"A must read . . . couples smart, page-turning text and creative projects to be enjoyed by parents, children and teachers alike."  —Naperville Magazine

"A well-rounded history of Chicago."  —Quintessential Barrington

 "History comes off the page and onto the kitchen table."  —Lake Magazine

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Chicago Review Press (July 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556526547
• ISBN-13: 978-1556526541
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 10.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #594,416 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Outstanding Resource on the City of Chicago, April 29, 2009

By 

Jan Peczkis "Scholar and Thinker" (Chicago IL, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Chicago History for Kids: Triumphs and Tragedies of the Windy City Includes 21 Activities (For Kids series) (Paperback)

As a lifelong Chicagoan, I find this work outstanding. It includes many hands-on activities for kids, such as making a mini-glacier, constructing a simulated Native American longhouse, making a replica of a pinhole camera, using a pan to make a simulated Chicago River watershed, etc.

Topics covered include the Indian past (including the Bowman site and the Blue Island culture), the early fur traders, pre-Fire Chicago, the Chicago Fire, the rapid rebuilding, the Stockyards and consequences of industrialization, various social issues, the 1968 Democratic Convention, the ascension of Harold Washington to the Office of Mayor, etc. An extensive bibliography in the back of the book allows the reader to do further research on this dynamic city.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really Great Book for both kids and adults, July 10, 2008

By 

K. Rakers - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chicago History for Kids: Triumphs and Tragedies of the Windy City Includes 21 Activities (For Kids series) (Paperback)

This is such a great book. It covers a lot of the history of Chicago that appeals both to kids as well as adults. My nephew really liked the book and had a lot of fun doing the crafts. It was refreshing to have so much fun with a book instead of trying to bear through it. Owen Hurd wrote this in such an intelligent way that it is as entertaining for adults as it is for kids.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great condition of Chicago book, April 18, 2009

By 

Kelly Cummings - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chicago History for Kids: Triumphs and Tragedies of the Windy City Includes 21 Activities (For Kids series) (Paperback)

I was very pleased upon the receipt of Chicago History for Kids. It arrived promptly and was in great condition. My students and I are really nejoying its contents.