Road Through the Ages

Grade 5-7-The history and technological development of Western civilization, presented in brief series entries. Each double-page spread covers a long period of time in short paragraphs crammed with facts and large, full-color drawings. The exact locations are never stated, although Great Britain and France come to mind from descriptions in the text and from the illustrations. House traces human shelter from caves to skyscrapers; while Farm shows the evolution of agriculture from hunters and gatherers to modern-day, supermachine-driven farms. Road and City are similar in format and style. Each title ends with a prediction of what the future might hold. These ambitious undertakings, intended to be overviews, become disjointed with the inclusion of too many concepts, discoveries, inventions, and vocabulary packed into 32 pages. Students needing good nonfiction to supplement social-studies units will have to look elsewhere.
Pamela K. Bomboy, Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.