Barbarians!

After discussing how the meaning of the word barbarian has changed since ancient times, Kroll introduces four notable groups referred to by their enemies as barbarians: the Goths, the Huns, the Vikings, and the Mongols. In each case, he looks at the lives of common people within the group, their religious beliefs, their leaders, their history, and the results of their attacks on other civilizations. The section on the Huns pays particular attention to Attila, while the discussion of the Mongols centers on the achievements of Genghis Khan. Showing clear differences among the four groups, the many detailed, energetic ink-and-watercolor illustrations show the barbarians at home and at war. Useful appendixes include an excellent time line and a source bibliography. Given the lack of information available for children on the barbarians in general and the Goths and the Huns in particular, this handsome volume will fill a collection gap while providing warrior-loving browsers with an informative and brightly illustrated book to enjoy.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2009 Booklist

Gr 4-7-Kroll describes, in a chapter each, the way of life for Goths, Huns, Vikings, and Mongols; the political, economic, and societal pressures that caused them to leave their homes; and the leaders who successfully changed their boundaries of influence. Byrd's watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations add a level of detail that will help children visualize the dif-ferent groups of men, women, and children. Full spreads as well as smaller border pictures depict a representative home and some aspects of the community, including agricultural practices, style of dress, building materials, etc. Religious beliefs, including the relationship between paganism and Christianity and the practice of scapulimancy (predicting the future by reading the cracks in burned animal bones) are explored. The dense text is presented in a small-sized font, mak-ing the book best suited for older elementary or middle school readers. While the layout and art may indicate a younger audience, elementary-grade children who take the time to explore the work will be rewarded by a thought-provoking, action-packed glimpse into a less-familiar part of history. A detailed time line helps unite the four parts of the book and sets the stage for the Europeans' expansion during the "Age of Discovery" in the 1400s.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.