Arms and Armor

School Library Journal

Gr 4-8Like many titles in this genre, this one runs the gamut of weapons from bows and arrows to missiles and rockets. The two-page chapters are arranged in chronological order according to when the weapon was developed. The text consists of about two paragraphs per page. Two or three detailed captions accompany the numerous full-color photos and drawings. Most of the chapters feature an actual person associated with that weapon; e.g., Robin Hood in "Bows and Arrows," Annie Oakley in "Muskets and Rifles," and Erwin Rommel in "Armored Vehicles." The format is busy, but not as cluttered as in similar titles. The glossary is not comprehensive and is further confused by illustrations from the text being scattered throughout the definitions. For example, a picture of an antipersonnel mine appears without a definition next to the term "Middle Ages." An additional purchase.Eldon Younce, Harper Elementary School, KS