Grade 4–6—Each of these books begins with an introduction, followed by four chapters organized according to historical period. Sections open with a very limited look at the time. Fictionalized passages place readers in historical scenarios that describe the context in which each hands-on project might have been used or seen, followed by lists of supplies and instructions on how to make the item. Many of the supplies can typically be found in the home; others, such as potter's clay and bamboo cooking skewers, will need to be purchased. Purposeful illustrations range from maps to color paintings, drawings, and photographs. Each title concludes with a metric conversion chart, notes about the authors, and lists of additional resources with suggested Web sites.
