Calendars

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8 A thorough, organized and scientific examination of the development of calendars. These ``modern'' conveniences, often taken for granted, are shown to be the result of centuries of revision brought about in times of seemingly less scientific sophistication than our own. Apfel traces the need for a systemized way of measuring time. She explains the concepts behind lunar and solar calendars, the advent of the Julian calendar and the attempt in the 16th Century to correct its shortcomings with the Gregorian calendar. The book's format lends itself to easy research. Each new subtopic is clearly labeled and new terms are italicized and defined in context. The information is scientifically presented and each change in calendars is explained in terms of the need for accuracy and standardization. This is more complete than earlier books on the topic. Ruth Brindze's The Story of Calendars (Vanguard, 1949; o.p.) and John Navarra's Clocks, Calendars and Carousels (Doubleday, 1967; o.p.) cover some similar material, but both are less technical. Margaret Joy's Days, Weeks and Months (Faber, 1984) combines science, custom and folklore related to the subject. Apfel incorrectly records the dates of Julius Caesar's death and the October Revolution in Russia, but these are minor shortcomings in this otherwise well-written book. Renee Steinberg, Fieldstone Middle School Media Center, Montvale, N.J.