Chicago History for Kids: Triumphs and Tragedies of the Windy City Includes 21 Activities (21) (For Kids series) - Softcover

Hurd, Owen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1556526547 ISBN 13: 9781556526541

Publisher: Chicago Review Press, 2007

Synopsis

From the Native Americans who lived in the Chicago area for thousands of years, to the first European explorers Marquette and Jolliet, to the 2005 Chicago White Sox World Series win, parents, teachers, and kids will love this comprehensive and exciting history of how Chicago became the third largest city in the U.S. Chicago’s spectacular and impressive history comes alive through activities such as building a model of the original Ferris Wheel, taking architectural walking tours of the first skyscrapers and Chicago’s oldest landmarks, and making a Chicago-style hotdog. Serving as both a guide to kids and their parents and an engaging tool for teachers, this book details the first Chicagoan Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, the Fort Dearborn Massacre, the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the building of the world’s first skyscraper, and the hosting of two World’s Fairs. In addition to uncovering Windy City treasures such as the birth of the vibrant jazz era of Louis Armstrong and the work of Chicago poets, novelists, and songwriters, kids will also learn about Chicago’s triumphant and tortured sports history. 

About this title

About the Author

Owen Hurd is a former editor at several Chicago publishers and is now a freelance writer. Gary Johnson is president of the Chicago History Museum.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–9—This attractive overview begins with geography and moves to the colorful stories that characterize the city. Hurd tapped local experts and collections, using primary and secondary sources and the responses of young readers to craft this engaging resource. Beginning with the Ice Age, a time line opens each chapter. Projects range from making a miniature glacier or a Ferris wheel to planning a fire-escape route or tracing one's family history. Walking tours offer maps, directions, and such itineraries as "Chicago's Oldest Landmarks" or "Modern Skyscrapers." The success of the 21 projects is uneven, but immensely readable details broaden the events described, such as why the Black Sox were motivated to throw the 1919 World Series. Excellent-quality photos, maps, illustrations, or boxed facts appear on every page. Skimmers can read parts, focus on projects, or pick up information from the short insets that offer relevant details. The bibliography reads like a resource list for Chicago collections with asterisks to distinguish titles for younger readers. Suggested places to visit, helpful Web sites, and a thorough index are also appended. An all-in-one resource, this is a good starting point for project ideas, history, and general information.—Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public Library
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Edition details

• Publisher: Chicago Review Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1556526547
• ISBN 13: 9781556526541
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 192