The DK Visual Timeline of the 20th Century

Covers major events and discoveries of the twentieth century in chronological sequence, in the context of four themes--arts and entertainment, science and technology, health and welfare, and world events

Grade 5 Up. Notable events and phenomena of this century are highlighted in this oversized volume. The time-line format extends from page to page and includes coverage in the areas of arts and entertainment, science and discovery, everyday life, and world history. Glossy full-color and black-and-white archival photographs and prints are attractively laid out amid short topical paragraphs. This attempt to catalog the important aspects of this century in a mere 48 pages results in a highly subjective treatment, and the author's British background is evident. The changing role of women during the 1920s and the U.S. Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s are explained but individuals or contributions from Mexican-American, Native American, or modern feminist groups are not represented. This is an entertaining and visually appealing book but a multimedia encyclopedia or CD-ROM will have more instructive value.?Janet Woodward, Franklin High School, Seattle, WA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 5^-8, younger with adult help. Adults know how difficult it is to impress on youngsters the importance of history. This book uses an attractive, easily accessible format as a tool to help children begin to understand the significance of what came before they did. Adams does a good job of covering the century, which he divides into four time periods. He briefly introduces each, following up with a detailed breakdown of important events, people, and inventions in the areas of the arts, science, everyday life, and world events. Information is dispensed in bite-size pieces--just the way kids like it. Individual entries include the year and a short summary, with many illustrated by a photograph or other visual. Yearly entries end with 1995, but a final page discusses future trends. Lauren Peterson