School Library Journal Review

Gr 4-5-A great feature of this series is that the volumes are complementary to one another. For example, Medieval accompanies Chaucer. It's an effective way of narrowing the focus and providing a specific experience connected to the era. Some information overlaps within each pairing, but since these are introductions, that's not necessarily a flaw as it can reinforce some key points. Oversimplification and superficiality are a risk when covering a subject as broad as the Byzantine Empire or the Enlightenment for a younger audience, but the authors do an admirable job of achieving depth while maintaining accessibility. Reproductions, photos, and sidebars break up the texts without making them too busy. Each book concludes by revisiting a tidbit from the text and inviting readers to complete a creative and thought-provoking activity. (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.