Brown, Don. The Great American Dust Bowl.

Brown, Don.  The Great American Dust Bowl.  Houghton Mifflin/Harcourt Brace  2013   80p  $18.99  ISBN 978-0-547-81550-3      all ages    Graphic nonfiction  VG-BN

This book provides a graphic explanation of when the Dust Bowl started and what caused it to be so devastating on that Sunday, April 14, 1935, and the following years.  The author and illustrator, Dan Brown, has done an excellent job of presenting the background and important facts needed to understand the savage dust storm that tore across the plains.  Readers will realize that no one factor caused the dust storm.  It came about after a series of unfortunate farming choices, world events, and several years of drought.

The illustrations are simple and dramatic, effectively portraying the tenor of the situation.  The use of the gold, brown, and orange color scheme further helps the reader to get into the correct mindset for understanding the Dust Bowl.

Summary: This book provides a graphic explanation of the Dust Bowl: when and how it started and what caused it to be so devastating on that Sunday, April 14, 1935, and the following years.  The author and illustrator has done an excellent job of presenting the background and important facts pertaining to this savage dust storm that tore across the plains. 
           

Dust Bowl, American history                                       --Linda McNeil

Burgan, Michael. The Split History of the American Revolution.

Burgan, Michael.  The Split History of the American Revolution.  Capstone/Compass Point   64p   $33.32  978-0-7565-4570-3      2013  elm/ms  VG-BNS    series: Perspectives Flip Books          

Most American history books for young people overwhelmingly emphasize the American perspective on events.  The Split History of the American Revolution, on the other hand, provides the traditional viewpoint, but encourages readers to acknowledge the British perspective as well.  This broader perspective will lead to a greater and more complete understanding of world history. Enhanced by colorful illustrations, maps, and a useful index, these brief overviews are excellent springboards to debate and student research.

Not surprisingly, the Perspective Flip Books series is the January 2013 Junior Library Guild’s selection in the “series nonfiction” category.  This volume, The Split History of the American Revolution, offers a fresh approach to studying the American Revolution.  It combines two books -- and two perspectives (the American and the British) -- in one volume.  Start from one cover, and the reader is immersed in one viewpoint.  Flip the book over and read about the same conflicts from the other, very different viewpoint.  Readers will come away with a deeper understanding of the events, conflicts, and issues that relate to the American Revolution.

United States-History-Revolution,1775-1783            --Hilary Welliver