The civil rights movement
(Book)

Gr 3-6-Easy-to-read summaries of the topics. Slavery includes information on the history of bondage in America and the treatment of slaves through the Civil War. Civil Rights covers Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and other figures who are less well known. Underground Railroad tells the stories of some of the fugitives, including Henry "Box" Brown's train journey to Philadelphia. The books have double-column, large-print texts and generous amounts of white space. All three titles are illustrated with numerous sepia-toned photographs. Slavery and Underground also have color illustrations. Captions are informative. These volumes are suitable for schools needing additional material or succinct treatments.-Margaret C. Howell, West Springfield Elementary School, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Brief texts, archival reproductions, and photos explore three significant eras in African-American history. Though the surveys in this series are generally overbroad and written in facile prose, [cf2]Underground Railroad[cf1] is enhanced by the inclusion of some intriguing anecdotal material. The format, which includes wide margins and many black-and-white photos and historical reproductions, should appeal to reluctant readers. Time lines are included. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Journey to Freedom titles: [cf2]Slavery, The Civil Rights Movement, The Underground Railroad[cf1].] (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Gr 3-6-Easy-to-read summaries of the topics. Slavery includes information on the history of bondage in America and the treatment of slaves through the Civil War. Civil Rights covers Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and other figures who are less well known. Underground Railroad tells the stories of some of the fugitives, including Henry "Box" Brown's train journey to Philadelphia. The books have double-column, large-print texts and generous amounts of white space. All three titles are illustrated with numerous sepia-toned photographs. Slavery and Underground also have color illustrations. Captions are informative. These volumes are suitable for schools needing additional material or succinct treatments.-Margaret C. Howell, West Springfield Elementary School, VA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Gr 5–7—To say "Lincoln freed the slaves" is too simplistic to be real history. Students should learn the actual reasons for his actions. Black Americans have withstood horrific conditions throughout American history and these books speak to their heartbreaking struggles and considerable triumphs. The writing is approachable and the texts are evenhanded. Period photos, drawings, and maps are generous. Historical illustrations are devastating at times, such as a boy drinking out of a "colored" water fountain or a poster advertising enslaved people for sale. Photos of archival documents such as the Emancipation Proclamation are included. Back matter includes a "Think About It" box, with questions for further thought about the subject at hand. This series was clearly painstakingly researched, but one quibble is there are no source notes. VERDICT This is true Black American history everyone should know about. Highly recommended for schools and public libraries.