From School Library Journal
Grade 2-4-These two titles provide limited information about traveling West and the Gold Rush. The introductory page is followed by eight simple projects, consisting of two-to-four illustrated steps, all presented on double-page spreads. The directions in Covered Wagons are very basic and probably not helpful to children working alone. One project calls for the child to draw a fiddle and cut it out. Some of the ideas in Gold Rush are so straightforward that no real directions are needed or given. One project involves making a poster. Children are instructed to draw a picture and given some suggestions about the wording. Step two says, "Using the markers, color in your Gold Rush poster." End of directions. Some words are defined in the text and others are printed in bold and thus appear in the glossary. The index is limited and inconsistent, leading readers to some of the projects and few facts. The Web site in each book, which is helpful in expanding the subject, is written on an adult level. With their lack of clear directions and patterns for objects such as fiddles and wagons, these books will find a limited audience.
Margaret C. Howell, West Springfield Elementary School, VA Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
