Freedom from Fear

Gr 4–6—As the world descended into global war in 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt declared four universal human rights worthy of support and defense. Each book defines a freedom, places it into the context of American history, and then gives international examples of how it has been adopted or restricted. Cahill uses examples to illustrate trends and patterns, all too many of which reveal that the four freedoms are far from universal and the struggle to secure them continues. Brief sidebars, "Did You Know?" fact boxes, and large photos, many of children, supplement the texts. It is disappointing that only one of the iconic Norman Rockwell paintings inspired by the four freedoms, Freedom from Want, is included in the set. Although these books don't provide extensive background or geopolitical analysis, they do introduce readers to the importance of basic human rights, making them first purchases.