Grade 2-5-Short descriptions of well-known incidents in American history, illustrated with reproductions of period prints and paintings. The Boston Tea Party, given its shorter time frame, is better suited to an abbreviated treatment, but faces stiffer competition as there are a number of books for this audience that recount the events of December 1773, as well, or better. Only a few of the people involved in the incident are mentioned by name, with Samuel Adams, Governor Hutchinson, and King George being the only ones cited more than once. The Sons of Liberty are not mentioned at all. In the second book, Dolan sketches the historical context in which the witchcraft hysteria developed, quickly skims through the months of the trials, and concludes with some ideas on how and why the community fell prey to the accusations of the "afflicted" girls. Zachary Kent's The Story of the Salem Witch Trials (Children's, 1986; o.p.) offers a fuller treatment for young readers. The books are visually appealing, with an uncluttered layout (all too rare nowadays). Still, neither one improves upon what is already available or provides as much information as may be found in any decent encyclopedia article. Most of the books suggested for further reading are well beyond the reach of youngsters who would be reading these volumes.
Elaine Fort Weischedel, Franklin Public Library, MA
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