Judith P. Josephson
Our America Series
(Lerner Publications, 2003)History comes alive for children in the Our America Series. Judith Josephson shares real stories, photographs and historical details about each period in her latest books: Growing Up in Pioneer America:1800 to 1890, Growing Up in a New Century:1890 to 1914 and Growing Up in World War II: 1941 to 1945.
Our America series (7 books): Grades 4-6
Lerner's "Our America" series is a must acquire for classroom and home school. Seven volumes explore the particulars of growing up in times ranging from New World settlement to World War II. Recipes and other activities give today's children the hands-on experiences that so nicely enhance understanding. Harsh realities like child labor and infant mortatlity are not glossed over. But the more whimsical sides of life are also presented. . . . [This] non fiction series brings our country's past to life.
—Bangor Broadside (ME)A wide range of topics are covered briefly but with enough information for report writers: school, family life, clothing, food, recreation and sports, popular culure, and the impact of specific historical events. Both everyday and "famous" children are quoted from diaries or interviews. The helpful elements of the series include source notes, photo credits, a map, lists for further reading and websites, an abundance of photos, artwork, and interesting sidebars . . . a recipe and suggested activities. Teachers will find this series useful, as reading circle leaders who can use it with historical fiction set in the same time period. Many young readers will find these browsing books, not just for reports.
—Bay Views (CA) July 2003
[The] Our America series includes books ranging from 1607 through 1945: Growing Up in a New World, Growing up in a Revolution and the New Nation, Growing Up in Pioneer America, Growing Up in the Civil War, Growing Up in a New Century, Growing Up in the Great Depression, Growing Up in World War II. . . . readers will hear their [the children’s] voices in their letters and diaries and will learn firsthand what they thought and how they felt.
—Hipfish“Books in the attractive Our America Series give today’s children an opportunity to understand what childhood and adolescence were like for America’s youth in the past. Each book focuses on several children describing various aspects of their lives. In New Century, one girl is growing up on a southern plantation; another child is Kermit, the son of Teddy Roosevelt. . . . the writing is lively as Josephson gives a general introduction to the times, including such topics as work, play, and education. World War II follows a similar pattern, but the emphasis is on what it was like to live through the war years. Both books feature evocative black-and-white photographs. The design is pleasing . . . Footnotes, a selected bibliography bolstered by a list of books and Web sites, and a two-page spread of follow-up activities round out each book.”
—Booklist
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