Series Review: "History Opens Windows."—These revised and updated books offer a simple overview of ancient cultures. Each 2-page spread deals with a topic such as farming, trade, everyday life, clothes and religion. Good for ESL students. Recommended—Natalie Sunde, Librarian, Nimitz High School Irving Independent School District12/4/2008
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Provides an overview of the culture and civilizations of the ancient West African Kingdoms of Mali, Ghana, and Songhai. The illustrations are important to the story because they show us art and the way west Africans dressed and lived then and now. The facts and descriptions in this book are accurate with the book. Recommended—Jennifer Dione, Media Library Specialist, Boulder City High SchoolClark County School District Library Services 1/21/09
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These short, adequate presentations of three ancient cultures emphasize governance and material culture (clothing, crafts, architecture). The books do not cover the origins of the empires or try to explain how they became so powerful. Sentences are simple and clear, and illustrations (mostly photos of artifacts, but also many reproductions of period art, city plans, etc.) are relevant and captioned. However, given the richness of the subject matter and the ongoing research into these civilizations, one might hope for a bit more than adequate. Look to the National Geographic Investigates series for more depth and immediacy, Ferdinand Anton’s The Secret World of the Aztecs (Prestel, 2002) for the same information delivered through stories and art, or Anita Ganeri’s heavily illustrated Ancient Maya (Compass Point, 2006) for more fleshed-out depictions of these fascinating societies. Recommended-Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD School Library Journal
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Series Review: "History Opens Windows."—These revised and updated books offer a simple overview of ancient cultures. Each 2-page spread deals with a topic such as farming, trade, everyday life, clothes and religion. Good for ESL students. Recommended—Natalie Sunde, Librarian, Nimitz High School Irving Independent School District12/4/2008
[Close]

These short, adequate presentations of three ancient cultures emphasize governance and material culture (clothing, crafts, architecture). The books do not cover the origins of the empires or try to explain how they became so powerful. Sentences are simple and clear, and illustrations (mostly photos of artifacts, but also many reproductions of period art, city plans, etc.) are relevant and captioned. However, given the richness of the subject matter and the ongoing research into these civilizations, one might hope for a bit more than adequate. Look to the National Geographic Investigates series for more depth and immediacy, Ferdinand Anton’s The Secret World of the Aztecs (Prestel, 2002) for the same information delivered through stories and art, or Anita Ganeri’s heavily illustrated Ancient Maya (Compass Point, 2006) for more fleshed-out depictions of these fascinating societies. Recommended-Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD School Library Journal
[Close]

Series Review: "History Opens Windows."—These revised and updated books offer a simple overview of ancient cultures. Each 2-page spread deals with a topic such as farming, trade, everyday life, clothes and religion. Good for ESL students. Recommended—Natalie Sunde, Librarian, Nimitz High School Irving Independent School District12/4/2008
[Close]

Series Review: "History Opens Windows."—These revised and updated books offer a simple overview of ancient cultures. Each 2-page spread deals with a topic such as farming, trade, everyday life, clothes and religion. Good for ESL students. Recommended—Natalie Sunde, Librarian, Nimitz High School Irving Independent School District12/4/2008
[Close]

These short, adequate presentations of three ancient cultures emphasize governance and material culture (clothing, crafts, architecture). The books do not cover the origins of the empires or try to explain how they became so powerful. Sentences are simple and clear, and illustrations (mostly photos of artifacts, but also many reproductions of period art, city plans, etc.) are relevant and captioned. However, given the richness of the subject matter and the ongoing research into these civilizations, one might hope for a bit more than adequate. Look to the National Geographic Investigates series for more depth and immediacy, Ferdinand Anton’s The Secret World of the Aztecs (Prestel, 2002) for the same information delivered through stories and art, or Anita Ganeri’s heavily illustrated Ancient Maya (Compass Point, 2006) for more fleshed-out depictions of these fascinating societies. Recommended-Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD School Library Journal
[Close]

Series Review: "History Opens Windows."—These revised and updated books offer a simple overview of ancient cultures. Each 2-page spread deals with a topic such as farming, trade, everyday life, clothes and religion. Good for ESL students. Recommended—Natalie Sunde, Librarian, Nimitz High School Irving Independent School District12/4/2008
[Close]