The Vikings

School Library Journal

Gr 6-8-Two attractive, colorful volumes that offer good introductions to the concepts and major elements regarding these topics. What readers won't get is a lot of information beyond a kind of outline or summary of major points. Long-range implications are beyond the scope of these titles. Each double-page chapter is introduced by a paragraph in bold type; subheadings effectively divide and organize content. The writing is straightforward; however, students may need definitions of some terms that are not included in the brief glossaries. The books are full of illustrations, including paintings (four of which are full-page cutaway views with see-through plastic overlays), reproductions, graphs, and maps. While placed appropriately, some of the visuals in Industrial are too small to be very informative; most, however, are well chosen and add to readers' understanding of the text. Industrial may be unique in its scope and treatment of the topic for this age level. Vikings is slightly more comprehensive and for an older audience than Robert Nicholson's Vikings (Chelsea, 1994) or Margaret Mulvihill's Viking Longboats (Watts, 1989) and is comparable to, but more attractive than, Pamela Odjik's Vikings (Silver Burdett, 1990). Students may be enticed by these books to pursue more in-depth works.-Rosie Peasley, Empire Union School District, Modesto, CA