Synopsis
Simple text and photographs depict homes in Colonial America, describing their interiors, exteriors, and such typical features as fireplaces and outhouses.
Elizabeth Young - Children's Literature
While this is a charming book about a charming era of history, I must take issue with some of the book's presentation. The first three pages were reminiscent of The Three Little Pigs (one built his house of wood, another of brick...) in the description of types of material used to build homes. The summary statement on the title page verso also indicates that the book describes outhouses. Nowhere are outhouses mentioned, unless one considers another building where the kitchen is as an outhouse, but it is not referred to as such. Following the text is a list of new words, including strange pronunciation. In sounding these out, they sound written for someone with English as a second language. It is hard to imagine these being helpful to a class. However, what class would use this book? The reading level is up to third grade, yet colonial America isn't taught in school curriculum until fourth grade. A fourth grader would not utilize this book because of the simple text. Indicated as an "Early Intervention Level 9" book, reading consultants may deem the limited vocabulary appropriate in a fourth-grade level class with lower reading skills. Full-color photographs illustrate the one or two sentence text on the facing page, and are pleasant to look at, but it might be more useful if the text were left to readers' imaginations. Part of the "Welcome Books, Colonial America" series. 2002, Children's Press/Scholastic,