Synopses & Reviews
One hundred years after the start of the “Great War,”
World War I for Kids provides an intriguing and comprehensive look at this defining conflict that involved all of the worlds superpowers. Why and how did the war come about? What was daily life like for soldiers in the trenches? What roles did zeppelins, barbed wire, and the passenger ship Lusitania play in the war? Who were Kaiser Wilhelm, the Red Baron, and Edith Cavell? Young history buffs will learn the answers these questions and many others, including why the western front bogged down into a long stalemate; how the war ushered in an era of rapid military, technological, and societal advances; and how the United States entry helped end the war. Far from a dry catalog of names, dates, and battles, this richly illustrated book goes in depth into such fascinating topics as turn-of-the-20th-century weaponry and the important roles animals played in the war, and explains connections among events and how the war changed the course of history. Hands-on activities illuminate both the war and the times.
Kids can:
· Make a periscope
· Teach a dog to carry messages
· Make a parachute
· Learn a popular World War I song
· Cook Maconochie Stew
· And much more
Review
“A comprehensive study of the Great War, emphasizing the changes the war brought and how it shaped our modern world.” —Kirkus Reviews
Review
“Makes a useful addition to many collections, and a particularly interesting feature in the back matter is a list of WWI films, from Charlie Chaplins silent Shoulder Arms to the recent War Horse.” —Booklist
Review
“The inclusion of accompanying activities would make this a particularly useful volume for teachers looking to incorporate such activities into their lessons. This would be an essential purchase for most public libraries.” —YA Books Central
Review
"Rasmussen offers a challenging volume that doesnt ignore the complexities of history ..." --Kirkus Reviews
Review
“Makes a useful addition to many collections...Even students who are unenthusiastic about warfare will find themselves intrigued by chapters such as “Animals Go to War ..." —Booklist
Synopsis
An educational and interactive childrens guide to the Great War
In time for the 2014 centennial of the start of the Great War, this activity book provides an intriguing and comprehensive look at World War I, which involved all of the worlds superpowers during a time of great technological and societal change. Emphasizing connections among events as well as the wars influence on later historical developments, it leads young readers to fully understand the most important aspects of the war, including how the war came about, how changing military technology caused the western front to bog down into a long stalemate, how the war fostered an era of rapid technological advances, and how the entry of the United States helped end the war. The book explores topics of particular interest to kids, such as turn-of-the-20th-century weaponry, air and naval warfare, and the important roles animals played in the war. Relevant crosscurricular activities expand on concepts introduced and illuminate the era of the early 1900s, including making a periscope, teaching a dog to carry messages, making a parachute, learning a popular World War I song, and more.
About the Author
R. Kent Rasmussen is a former reference book editor and the author or editor of a number of books on Mark Twain, including Mark Twain for Kids, Mark Twain A to Z, and Dear Mark Twain. He has contributed articles, essays, and reviews to the Los Angeles Times, Library Journal, and many others. He lives in Thousand Oaks, California.