Scholastic Encyclopedia of the Civil War - Hardcover

Grade 5-8-Clinton approaches this complex period from many perspectives: the people (men, women, and children, African Americans, Native Americans); the politics; the battles; the lives of the soldiers and those left at home; the literature; and the propaganda. Her year-by-year description incorporates eyewitness accounts, diary entries, and clearly captioned full-color and black-and-white maps, photos, and reproductions that bring the people and events alive. Unfortunately, photo citations are not included in the otherwise comprehensive index. There are numerous fact boxes, definitions, "Did You Know?" entries, and sidebars. Other than identifying the speakers or writers of the primary documents used, no documentation is given. Joy Hakim's War, Terrible War (Oxford, 1999) is more detailed, but less likely to be picked up for casual reading or research. Clinton's successful overview is aimed at students with little or no knowledge of this period. A clear, accurate, and objective presentation.
Peg Glisson, Mendon Center Elementary School, Pittsford, NY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

It's hard to say how this book could be considered an encyclopedia, since it is neither arranged alphabetically by subject nor comprehensive in its coverage. Once you get past the title, however, the large-format book provides a cogent introduction to the Civil War. Fully illustrated with black-and-white reproductions of period photos, paintings, drawings, and engravings, the story of the war and its aftermath unfold chronologically. Throughout the book, well-chosen features and sidebars offer interesting supplementary information, first-person accounts, and fast facts about the conflict. A good resource for school and public library collections. Carolyn Phelan