The Articles of Confederation

Gr 3–5—In this series, the context of foundational documents is peeled back layer by layer. Well-organized, short chapters explain the reasons each document came to be, the people involved with its creation, and the effects of it on the course of history. Excerpts from the subjects are woven into the text. Sepia-toned backgrounds lend an antique air, while bold color accents add a modern dash to the design. The illustrations, which consist of reproductions and photographs, are frameless. The effect is that the images bleed into the text, creating an easy transition between word and picture. Captions and "It's a Fact!" asides supply additional information. While there's nothing groundbreaking here, this set gives librarians and teachers an opportunity to replace older titles with new, attractive ones.