The Seventies

School Library Journal

Gr 5-7-- Dividing the centuries into decades in order to highlight important cultural and historical events is not a new concept. Series already available include Time-Life's ``This Fabulous Century,'' MacDonald/Silver Burdett's ``History of the Modern World,'' and Watts's ``The Picture History of the 20th Century.'' These new offerings are interesting because of their excellent full-color photos that capture the flavor of the times. In both volumes, the fashion section depicts diverse styles, with brief commentary. Fewer pages are devoted to historical events than to culture and recreation. The historical section largely chronicles disasters. Despite the fact that these volumes are weighted toward coverage of cultural history, they are both useful and entertaining. --Janet E. Gelfand, Lawrence Junior High School, NY