The HISTORY Channel This Day in History For Kids

February 1, 2024
A day-by-day tally of high-interest events in world affairs, pop culture, science, sports, and more, with some general daffiness thrown in. Though some of Bova's entries are speculative (see: April 24,1184 BCE: "The Trojan War...ends."), there are few if any dull spots in this event-filled browsers' delight. Strung along mini-timelines, the two to five or so daily events are described briefly but in enough detail to give them context, with highlighted ledes and occasional wisecracks (December 16, 1707: "Mount Fuji kicks some ash") to further lighten the textual load. Though the general tone is upbeat, historical controversies and tragedies from the Wounded Knee Massacre to the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 ("a horrible incident of violent racism") and the attack on the U.S. Capitol of January 6, 2021 ("the first attempt in American history to prevent a peaceful transfer of power") do get necessary notice. Often enough, the focus shifts away from North America, Europe, and the past century and a half to serve at least as reminders that interesting and important things have happened in other times and places, too. The layout leaves plenty of space for expanded commentary on special days or other topics, as well as the mix of small photos and Shaw's cartoon portraits and images that serve as illustrations. A blank ruled page at each month's end invites readers to fill in highlights from their personal histories. Equally rewarding for sustained dives or random dips. (index, image credits) (Nonfiction. 9-12)

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April 5, 2024

Gr 3-7-Jammed with events for each day of the year, this book is sure to keep readers fascinated. An introduction explains the importance of learning from history rather than repeating it and encourages young history lovers to include their own special events on the blank pages provided for each month. Events are arranged on a timeline under their dates, and those that have an illustration or photograph to accompany them are highlighted. Notable observances such as Black History Month or Native American Heritage Month are included. Sidebars and fact boxes offer additional information, such as whether Dracula was a real person, how electoral votes work, or the top three flavors of Girl Scout cookies. Events range from the dates World War I began and ended, to the release date for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. If readers are interested in "amazing inventors, incredible leaders, and wild daredevils," then this is the history book for them. A table of contents and index make it easy to find a particular month or topic, but students may wish to simply browse and see what catches their attention. VERDICT A wonderful addition to library collections; this book is perfect for budding historians and those who enjoy learning new facts on a range of subjects.-Suzanne Costner

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