Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 33
 Adds the benefits of the Internet to a traditional book!!! August 8, 2001
226 out of 229 found this review helpful
This book is a comprehensive survey of history from the creation of the Earth to the begining of the Millenium.It is divided into 4 sections:Pre-History, Ancient World, Medieval World, and the Last 500 years. It is a very visual book, with lots of photographs and illustrations to complement the concise text...But what makes it an INCREDIBLE resource is that it is internet-linked. There are hundreds of websites listed in the book that expand on the information presented. The research team at Usborne books has come up with age-appropriate websites from extremely reputable universities, museums, and institutions throughout the world to complement what is in their encylopedia. Let me give a few examples. For Ancient History there is a link to the University of Pennsylvania where a person can print out his/her name in hierglyphics. For modern day, there is a fabulous site at the BBC where you can read about the rise of Hilter and take a quiz afterwards. There is another site where you can listen to famous speeches throughout the ages. IT IS SO INCREDIBLE. And the best part is you can access all the listed sites through Usborne's website. The publisher's site will keep the links up to date if addresses change. This is a terrific resource for any student.
Best Available Home School History Book July 24, 2009
W. Bradley (PCB, FL)
31 out of 31 found this review helpful
We are Christian parents homeschooling our two girls using a trivium-based curriculum of our own design. If we had to limit ourselves to one history book it would be the Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia Of World History (Hardcover).
We also use Parragon and Kingfisher World History books, Usborne Atlas of World History, Usborne History Dates, and the Mystery of History. I also use Cracking the AP World History Exam (by Princeton Review) as an aid in linking key history concepts when putting our history lessons together.
Because we are using the Well-Trained Mind to guide our homeschooling I have looked at Story of the World several times but can't bring myself to like it. I feel it (and Mystery of History) are inadequate for use as a history spine, although we occasionally use Mystery of History as a supplement. One reason Mystery of History is inadequate is that it's 50/50 religious/secular history, crowding out to much world history in the process. We do our Bible study in addition to history rather than trying to kill two birds with one stone.
The Parragon book is similar to the Usborne book and, though not as complete, it provides a very good complement. The Kingfisher was intended to be our primary history book for grades 5-8. It is more detailed and requires a higher reading level but overall doesn't flow nearly as well as the Usborne World History. I expect to lean primarily on the Usborne EWH again in grades 5-8 while still using the Kingfisher as a supplement. We'll just use it more often than in grades 1-4.
The Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia Of World History has great maps, great graphics, and well-written text. The sections are complete and it does a decent job of connecting the dots from one civilization to the next. It's also been very helpful in building a history timeline. Our Amy Pac timeline figures are really not that great and have numerous errors, so being able to download graphics from the Usborne Encylopedia has been very useful in generating our own timeline figures. The Usborne internet links provided are generally pretty good and are maintained current. Sure you can Google for similar content but it doesn't take long to realize how much time gets eaten up sorting through sites looking for something worthwhile. Using the Usborne-quicklinks is a no-brainer and time-saver.
As noted by other reviewers the first 100 pages covers creation to the dawn of man, including changes to the earth and life on it. It's well done and what we used for our daughter's Kindergarten "history" lessons. The girls always looked forward to the readings and, other than a few skipped pages, we had no trouble reconciling Usborne's pre-history with our Christian faith.
I spend a fair amout of time each week putting together history lessons using multiple resources, so I agree with the reviewer that wished for something better but wrote that it's the best history currently available. I'm also confident that if our girl's history lessons consisted of nothing more than reading from the Usborne Encyclopedia Of World History they would still love history and easily learn more about it than 98% of our country's children.
Superb, An excellent, Concice History July 21, 2006
apoem (Bosque Farms, NM USA)
32 out of 33 found this review helpful
This is an excellent introduction to history. This is a must for homeschoolers, particularly those of a young age.
There are pictures and drawings and photographs that illustrate intersting points in history. There is basic information about how the archeologists have surmised what they know.
The children and I have found it fascinating.
It does once in a while touch on subjects that we discuss or skip over. It is so mild it is difficult to think of an example up front. However, the books is well worth the money and I would buy it again.
It is educational, interesting, clearly written and concise yet it is not boring.
Excellent history overview July 10, 2006
M. McCall (Portland, OR)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
This book provides an excellent history overview for children with engaging illustrations. The chronological sequencing of the book helps provide an illustrated and written time line of the world that is helpful for children to see events in relation to one another. The book has many layers of educational opportunity. With a younger child you can read the pictures they are interested in, with an older you may read all of the text and use the internet links for additional information. I highly recommend this book.
Excellent History book for young kids July 26, 2006
Mirian (Lawton, OK)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
This is an excellent History book for kids who like to read and see pictures. The pictures are not only beautiful, they help kids to transport themselves to the times of History they are reading about. The internet links information is very useful, but if your child is too young to surf the internet, the book itself has enough historical information for young children.
It is a very good buy if you want to give your child a classical education.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 33
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