And Then: A History of the World - Softcover

Gr 4-6--A fast-paced, quick-glance history of the world from 20,000 million years ago to the present. It is divided into seven chapters, each with an index, a table of contents, and a time line. Most pages are split into two columns of text broken up by cartoons. The slangy, flippant, and often irreverent tone is frequently inappropriate and often insensitive. It is also misleading. For example, Ross states that "The brightest bulbs of the Age of Enlightenment were composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart...and philosopher Fran ois Voltaire." Even excusing the pun, more lame than most, and assuming that the statement had meaning, who could prove or disprove such an assertion? The "fertile crescent" is referred to as the "fertile boomerang." The name of the Hohokam people is said to mean "Ho-ho, You Can't Find Us." The sophomoric humor, unfunny and confusing, impedes any serious consideration of the facts presented, and dishonors the genuine curiosity that might have led readers to this book. Cliche ridden and reductionist, this title does no service to young readers.

Jean Pollock, King Country Library System, Seattle, WA

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