Children's Encyclopedia of American History (Smithsonian) (Smithsonian Institution) (Hardcover)

~ (Author), (Author) "The first Europeans traveled to North America in about A.D. 1000, when Leif Eriksson and his Viking crew discovered a land they called Vinland, after..." (more)
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Produced in association with the Smithsonian Institution, DK's Children's Encyclopedia of American History by David King is a comprehensive overview lavishly illustrated with period photographs, paintings and drawings of people, objects and events, as well as maps and charts. Separate topics-from "The Constitution" to "Terrorism Strikes Home"-unfold in double-page spreads throughout 18 chronologically organized chapters. An appendix includes a list of the U.S. presidents, a chart of key facts about the 50 states, and the texts of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and its Amendments, plus the Gettysburg Address.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-9-A visually enticing and textually fascinating survey. Grouped thematically and chronologically (with overlap where necessary), the 18 chapters span the centuries, starting with 1000-1607 ("Two Worlds Meet"-a look at the indigenous cultures and the impacts of European exploration) and concluding with 2000-2002 ("A New Millennium"-September 11, 2001, and beyond). Chapters consist of up to 10 two- to four-page spreads and open with an introduction that offers a few paragraphs of text, a representative graphic, a brief overview, and a time line. A typical spread contains a colored tab indicating the years addressed, maps, captioned photos, sidebars that elaborate on specific events, reproductions of paintings and drawings, definitions, and cross-references. Appendixes include a compendium of presidents; state facts; and the full text of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Gettysburg Address. Tied more to themes and historical strands than Chronicle of America (DK, 2000), this book is also more approachable and will be especially appealing to students intimidated by text-heavy resources.
Mary R. Hofmann, Rivera Middle School, Merced, CA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: DK CHILDREN (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789483300
• ISBN-13: 978-0789483300
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 10.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #13,481 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well balanced presentation, beautiful pictures, March 4, 2005

By	M. H Shamp (Columbia Falls, MT United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am a conservative Christian looking for the right history book to homeschool my kids. I read this DK Children's Encyclopedia from beginning to end, and I find it acceptable over all in content presentation. Another reviewer here says the book is too liberal, but I disagree; I think Mr. King clearly strives to present an unbiased view of American History. Now everybody has his own view of history, and a history book is bound to reveal somewhat of the author's bias. However, it is obvious that Mr. King kept his own opinions well under control, making this book excellent read for people of every view point.

For example, in presenting the Reagan administration, Mr. King mentioned the tax cuts, shrinking government, and the prosperity ensued. He mentioned that "The number of homeless people grew at an alarming rate" (p.239) without saying what that rate is, but over all, he did say that Reagan was so popular that even some Democrats voted for him (Reagan Democrats), and many middle class Americans consider the Reagan era the best of times.

In contrast, in describing President Clinton, Mr. King said most of his proposals didn't make it through the legislature, but Clinton remained popular because of the economic boom. Then he described Clinton's scandals in detail, leaving me the impression Clinton didn't do much else. A liberal might consider this presentation not giving Clinton enough credit.

In selecting a children's history book, one must consider what is available out there, and this one is the most balanced I find so far. If you want to see something really liberal, check out The Making Of America by Robert D Johnston. It is published by the National Geographic Society, with a forward by first lady Laura Bush; sounds good, doesn't it? It states that "Columbus, along with many settlers over the three centuries that followed his arrival, committed genocide." (p.14)

I stopped breathing when I read that sentence. I can honestly say that Mr. King never made me stop breathing.

I am a fan of DK; it seems that they strive at excellence in every book they publish, and this history book is no exception. The pictures are exquisite, the explanation concise and to the point, and the overall layout is a work of art. I do have one complaint, though: I disagree with the approach of slapping text right on top of pictures. Consider, for example, pages 74 and 75, where they have the words sitting on top of round white cotton puffs in a dark background. It makes my eyes water trying to read it. The editor actually took the trouble to justify this approach, saying that "The images don't play a bit part to the text's starring role in this book, ... the words and images have been considered together to bring this wealth to the page - and to the eye of the reader." (p.11)

I think this approach is commendable but for the eye's difficulty in discerning text from the image underneath. But overall, I highly recommend this book for grade school history studies. I don't think there is a better one anywhere.

42 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Where are the Black contributions to American History?, March 10, 2006

By	M. Bovell (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am a homeschooling mother, and this is my first year teaching my sons American History. As an immigrant, this has been a learning experience for me as well. I bought the Children's Encyclopedia of American History as a pictorial supplement to the excellent curriculum we are using. It took just a few minutes of glancing through this book to become very disappointed with my purchase. There is little or no reference to key African-American figures in American History. The discussion of the Spanish exploration of the South and West mentions every member of the party except Estebanico, the Moorish slave who actually led the expedition to what is now California. We are currently learning about George Washington Carver, and were surprised to find not even one sentence dedicated to this man's great contributions. Booker T. Washington is mentioned in one sentence, and shares a brief paragraph with W.E.B. DuBois. The entire Civil Rights movement is summed up in one paragraph. Surprisingly, a significant amount of space is dedicated to a picture of Bill Clinton hugging Monica Lewinsky, and a discussion of their relationship. The book is packed and ready to be shipped back to Amazon.

117 of 149 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Almost an Encyclopedia, June 17, 2003

By	Kate (Pittsburgh, PA United States) - See all my reviews

If you are an environmentalist or a liberal of any strain, this book is for your kids. It is not, however, for mine. I was excited to read it because at first glance, it presents an attractive and manageable timeline of American history, complete with helpful appendices including all of the important documents that are no longer priorities in the schools. As Mr. King gets closer to current events his bias becomes more evident and more difficult to stomach. Listing all of the examples here would be impossible, but he neatly boils the Reagan era down to homelessness, the national debt and the failed War on Drugs. President George W. Bush is simply defined by the Florida recount, the "disappearing surplus," and withdrawal from Kyoto. (The War on Terror is mentioned in the "Terrorism" section and President Bush is criticized for creating additional Arab opposition by calling Iraq, Iran, and North Korea, "the Axis of Evil.") I had hoped for a fair and balanced look at American history, and this fell far short of my expectations.