Missions of the Southern Coast (California Missions)

Gr 4-6--Welcome additions to curriculum support materials on California history. All three titles are attractive, balanced, and age appropriate. Each volume begins by placing the founding of the missions by Spanish Franciscan priests in a historical context. Spain's expansionist ambitions in the New World are discussed. Then a picture is painted of the land, flora and fauna, and indigenous Native American life in California before the European onslaught. A substantial section is devoted to each of the featured missions, with discussions of its origins, construction, daily functioning, and ultimate demise as an outpost of the Spanish empire. Respectful attention is given to the exploitation of the mission Indians known as "neophytes." The final portions of each volume describe the secularization of the missions in the mid 1800s, subsequent deterioration, and ultimate renovation in this century. Each text is richly illustrated with full-color and black-and-white annotated photographs and drawings. Frequent insets effectively highlight various points mentioned in the main text. Although these titles are not by any means exhaustive treatments, they do fill a gap in material on this subject for middle elementary grades. Librarians will still want to keep Linda Lyngheim's The Indians and the California Missions (Langtry, 1990) and The California Missions (Sunset-Lane, 1979; o.p.) for supplemental and more in-depth information.

Rosalyn Pierini, San Luis Obispo City-County Library, CA

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