School's out, but fun and factual kids' books are in:

School's out, but fun and factual kids' books are in:
"Scholastic Book of Outstanding Americans," by Sheila Keenan (Scholastic, $19.95)
Madonna and Janet Reno probably don't hang out in the same places. But one place they can always be found together is in "Scholastic Book of Outstanding Americans" (ages 9-13).Sheila Keenan offers brief biographies -- most half a page long -- of about 450 famous Americans and a few infamous ones, along with a photo of each.Among them are political figures, entertainers, athletes, scientists, artists, business leaders and even a crook or two.Readers meet James Stewart and Martha Stewart, Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Lyndon B. Johnson, Spike Lee and Robert E. Lee, Benjamin Franklin and Aretha Franklin, Dr. Jonas Salk and Dr. Seuss, Jesse James and Jesse Jackson.There are Mark Twain, John Wayne and Thomas Paine; and Truth (Sojourner), Hope (Bob) and Love (Nat).
"Children's Encyclopedia of American History," by David C. King in association with the Smithsonian Institution (DK, $29.99)
Plenty of important Americans -- along with significant places, things and events -- can be found in "Children's Encyclopedia of American History" (8 and older).The book covers a millennium of history, from 1000, the approximate time when the first Europeans came to the New World, to 2002 and the war on terrorism spurred by the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.Events are arranged chronologically, of course, but each section is organized around a particular theme: The Cold War, the Industrial Age, the Great Depression, settling the West and others. Colorful illustrations -- more than 1,000 -- include photos, maps and art works, with reproductions of ads, posters, newspaper front pages and other artifacts providing clues to the contemporary culture of each era.
"State-by-State Atlas" (DK, $19.95)
A "kid's guide to the people and places of America" -- that's what "State-by-State Atlas" (ages 8 and older) calls itself and, by golly, that's just what it is.Organized into geographical regions, each of the 50 states is treated to a two-page spread that provides information about its history, geography, industry, agriculture and people. More than 750 color illustrations include photos of famous people, places, things and events associated with each state. And, since this is an atlas after all, there are maps, too.For each state there is a column of quick facts, including its official bird, flower and tree; population and area figures; and major cities.
"Don't Know Much About the Pioneers," by Kenneth C. Davis (HarperCollins, $15.99)
There are plenty of subjects one might not know much about, and if the story of the westward pioneers is one of them, the book for you might be "Don't Know Much About the Pioneers" (ages 6-9).This latest in Kenneth C. Davis' "Don't Know Much About ..." series is illustrated by Renee Andriani and appears in this bicentennial year of the start of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which paved the way for westward expansion.It offers the story of the American West, of cowboys and Indians, the Gold Rush, the push West and life on the frontier. It's like an old Western movie, but with less horsing around.
"The World Almanac for Kids 2004" (World Almanac, $11.95)
With its glossy, colorful pages splashed with graphics and big type, "The World Almanac for Kids 2004" (World Almanac, $11.95) doesn't look much like the adults' version with its page after page of columns of tiny black type.In alphabetical sections that range from "Animals" to "World History," readers will learn how many yen it takes to buy a $5 hamburger in Japan, which places are the world's hottest and coldest, which dog breed is most popular among Americans, why we say "It's raining cats and dogs" and -- for the oddly curious -- where the Pez Museum is located.
"America's Great Disasters," by Martin W. Sandler (HarperCollins, $17.99)
For young readers fascinated by the thrill of real-life disasters, "America's Great Disasters" (ages 8 and older) should fill the bill.Text by Martin W. Sandler and black-and-white photos and engravings relive, among other tragedies, the Johnstown (Pa.) flood of 1889, the Northeast's blizzard of 1888, the Galveston, Texas, hurricane of 1900, and the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906.
Source: Associated Press