The California Missions (We the People)

Ann Heinrichs grew up in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and lives in Chicago. She is the author of more that one hundred books for children and young adults on Asian, African, and U.S. history and culture. Ann has also written numerous newspaper, magazine, and encyclopedia articles. She is an award-winning martial artist, specializing in t’ai chi empty-hand and sword forms. Ann has traveled widely throughout the United States, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. In exploring each state for this series, she rediscovered the people, history, and resources that make this a great land, as well as the concerns we share with people around the world.

Grade 5-8 Accessible texts, each with 9 or 10 short chapters, are packed with information, and include some details that will be new to students. For example, in Emancipation, mention of Lincoln's meticulous attention to detail and his insistence on a minor change in the document hours before its delivery provide fascinating insight into the significance of the Proclamation and the nature of the president. In addition, photographs of several former slaves along with a discussion of their lives after emancipation are provided. The information and inviting layouts will capture the interest of report writers and may even draw in reluctant researchers. Each volume is primarily illustrated with captioned color reproductions, but there are also black-and-white and color photographs and archival maps. These titles are more visually appealing and contain more facts than Brendan January's The Emancipation Proclamation (1997) and Gail Sakurai's The Louisiana Purchase (1998, both Children's). However, for depth of material and illustrations, Rhoda Blumberg's What's the Deal? Jefferson, Napoleon and the Louisiana Purchase (National Geographic, 1998) would be the preferred choice on that topic. -Dona J. Helmer, College Gate School Library, Anchorage, AK
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