Grade 3-6-A fun-filled, how-to manual for the new millennium. Projects, insights, and ideas abound. A timeline running down the recto pages reveals a lot that has happened in the last 2000 years. The first theme park was opened in 900. In 1596 the first flush toilet was installed. And by the year 2000 the world population is expected to exceed six billion. One flaw has it that A.D. 2000 means 2000 years after the birth of Jesus. Most scholars place his birth somewhere around 4 B.C.E. Clear directions accompany the activities and required materials are easy to find. Adult supervision is suggested when necessary. Most crafts are not millennium specific; many can be adapted to celebrate any new decade or year. The numerous black-and-white drawings are tepid but descriptive. Side boxes offer additional trivia such as shoes through the ages. Web sites are listed for possible cybercelebrating. Daniel Cohen's The Millennium (S & S, 1998) debates in more detail when the new millennium actually begins?2000 or 2001?and does a good job of explaining the millennium virus, destined to wreak havoc on all computers. The Kids Guide should appeal to most students for the next year or two.
Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 3^-6. The millennium is fast approaching, and so far there haven't been too many books for children on the topic. Although this book is flawed, it might give kids (and their teachers) some ideas for millennium activities. After a brief introduction to the millennium and the ambiguities surrounding its correct date, the authors plunge right into the activities, many of which are only artificially linked to the topic. For instance, the first activity shows how to put messages in walnut shells and calls these notes "millennograms." A sidebar, however, directs readers to a Web site that introduces codes from two millennia ago. Among the other ideas are throwing a millennium party, keeping diaries, designing millennium T-shirts, and experiments in marking time. Boxed insets contain interesting information about millennial history, and a final section on cyber-celebrating offers historical Web sites and a couple for the year 2000. Ink drawings and a lively layout give the format an approachable look. Ilene Cooper --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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