Civil War A to Z: A Young Person's Guide to Over 100 People, Places, and Points of Importance [Hardcover]

Norman Bolotin (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Containing more than 130 entries of the most important people, places, and events of the Civil War, this handy reference book is great for browsing and is also a compact introduction to the Civil War and to mid-nineteenth-century America. Designed especially for children in upper-elementary and early junior-high grades, each cogent entry is self-contained and full of vivid lore. Organized alphabetically, the entries cover many facets of the war-including slavery, Abraham Lincoln's role as president, nursing, generals, battles, and the home front. Chock-full of historical photographs, drawings, and maps, this entertaining guide is an invaluable companion to any study of the Civil War.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8 This well-written resource contains biographies of key people, information on major battles, and a general introduction to the era. The alphabetically arranged entries are easy to understand, covering all the important issues, and the black-and-white photos and reproductions add immensely to the text. Even readers familiar with the era will find fresh facts here. The personal profiles use small anecdotes to illustrate the individual's character. For example, the entry on George Pickett talks about the depression that plagued him for the rest of his life after the Battle of Gettysburg. One small flaw is that the "see" references are often not circular. The article on John Ericsson leads readers to one on the Monitor and Merrimack; however, that article is not linked back to the one on Ericsson. The same is true of the articles on Stephen Douglas and the Lincoln-Douglas Debates. Nevertheless, this is a wonderful introduction for readers unfamiliar with the subject, and will be especially useful for reports. -Elizabeth M. Reardon, McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-8. Bolotin provides an excellent overview of the people, places, events, and concepts one needs to know about the U.S. Civil War. The entries average two paragraphs in length, with longer ones for subjects requiring more explanation. Battles are listed under their most common name, with other designations in parentheses: "Bull Run, Battle of (Manassas in South)." A wide-ranging account such as this runs the risk of being sketchy and incomplete, but Bolotin has a good eye for what students need to understand about the war and provides a great deal of information, skillfully whittled down to its most salient points. Topics range from Stonewall Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, and the Battle of Gettysburg to medical care, black soldiers, and Clara Barton. The format is attractive, with numerous photographs. A glossary and a time line are appended, as is an author's note, attached to a reading list, which advises students how to find information on a topic when faced by an overwhelming amount of material. Buy one copy to circulate and a second one for reference. Susan Dove Lempke
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1st edition (August 5, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525462686
• ISBN-13: 978-0525462682
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,156,358 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and absorbing introduction to the Civil War, January 27, 2003

By 

"ann-the-librarian" (Indian Lake OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Civil War A to Z: A Young Person's Guide to Over 100 People, Places, and Points of Importance (Hardcover)

_____This is an excellent and absorbing introduction to the Civil War. Arranged alphabetically this book will be good starting point for anyone researching the Civil War. The glossary and timeline are helpful additions.

_____While this book is simple to use, the information is riveting. Mention is made of not only important soldiers, but also individuals involved with the Abolition movement, nurses, photographers, Blacks, among others who are identified with this era. The actual pictures of events and people and maps add to the overall usefulness of the book. Readers will definitely want to learn more about the war.