Review by Booklist Review
The question-and-answer format in these books in the Good Question! series mimics the way children ask about a given subject. The questions are related to a general topic but do not follow a linear or chronological narrative. They also vary widely in scope. The format works well for Why Did the Whole World Go to War?, where Sandler includes questions ranging from the very broad, such as What started World War II?, to the much narrower, including Who were the Tuskegee Airmen? and Why was Anne Frank hiding? The answers, usually one to three paragraphs long, provide a digestible level of information and detail. Although the answers to very specific questions sometimes touch on larger issues, they tend to stay focused on the particulars of the matter at hand. The illustrations feel a bit younger than the text but depict the subject matter appropriately and engagingly. A time line at the end of each book sums up the material.--Aronin, Miriam Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-7-Arranged in a question-and-answer format, these books offer concise, accessible, comprehensive looks at important eras and events in U.S. history. Both titles have richly colored, detailed illustrations and photographs; maps; time lines; and large, clear print. Tables of contents are set up as a series of questions, such as, "Did Dr. King have kids?" "What happened to Dr. King?" "How did Hitler become so powerful?" "Why did Japan attack its neighbors?" The answers are worded in kid-friendly language that provides enough detail to explain the complexities of the era or person.-Maggie Chase, Boise State University, ID (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Using a question-and-answer format, Sandler presents a broad overview of events leading up to and occurring during World War II. Brief but sufficient explanations are given to questions such as "How did Hitler become so powerful?," "Why was Anne Frank hiding?," and "How did the war change life in America?" Illustrations, archival photographs, and maps enhance the insightful text. Timeline. (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A very simple overview of World War II. Sandler's approach to questions about WWII is unapologetically direct: "Hitler wanted Germany to take over other countries and rule the world." Subtle, no, but there's no quibbling about the bottom line. Some young readers will likely have questions about how A leads to B: Germany had to "get rid of its military" after World War I but was able to invade Czechoslovakia just two decades later, though Sandler does not explain how Germany reincarnated its military, for instance. With selected, specific topics, on the other hand, Sandler comfortably hands over the goods: on blitzkriegs, the Battle of Britain, the role of spies, great battles, the reason Anne Frank was in hiding and the contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen. The artwork is appropriately dramaticbold colors applied to a nubbly canvas, catching melodramatic momentsand appears alongside handsome and richly informative maps; there is a brief timeline as an appendix. Some glitches are less problematicalbackward swastikasand some are of greater concern. "World War II was the deadliest war in history. More than 15 million people lost their lives"yes, like an additional 25-45 million people. Further reading and a bibliography are available at the series website but not in the book itself, making it difficult for young readers to delve deeper. An elementary steppingstone, but nothing more. (Nonfiction. 10-14)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
