Yorktown

School Library Journal

Gr 4-7These two titles open with an overview of the war in which these decisive battles were fought. The summaries are not oversimplified, yet will be easy for young readers to understand. A detailed description of the actual battle follows. Each book relates the sequence of events and fleshes out the participants. Readers meet the commanding generals, the heroes, as well as ordinary soldiers. Shiloh presents descriptions of the battle from a variety of observers; in Yorktown, the siege is described by an artillery sergeant and by Cornwallis himself. Finally, in the last section, armchair travelers can visit the battlefields today. Information is included on hours of operation of the national parks, as well as admission charges, phone numbers, and other area sights. Excellent source notes are appended, and the list for further reading includes Web sites to visit for more information. The full-color photos and reproductions add depth and dimension to the descriptions; the easy-to-read maps greatly contribute to readers' understanding of events. Good introductions to the individual battles and to the two wars.Elizabeth M. Reardon, McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN