A World War II Timeline

by Elizabeth Raum

World War II begins in an economic depression and grows into a fight about tyrants and dictators. In the end, it is the deadliest, most destructive war in history. Explore the events of World War II and witness the struggle between power and peace.

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

As a child, I loved writing reports. For me, doing research has always been a kind of treasure hunt. My treasures are the facts that create pictures of past worlds and faraway places. I've put those facts into nearly 100 biographies, histories, and science books for young readers. I've also written two picture books and several interactive adventures that place you, the reader, inside the story. I hope that all my books lead you to imagine yourself in some intriguing place among fascinating people. Every book should take readers on new adventures in this big, beautiful world of ours.

Happy travels!

Author website: www.elizabethraumbooks.com

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book contains brief amounts of text at the beginning and at the conclusion that provide an overview of WWII, the star here is the timeline itself. WWII was a complex war, one fought on several different fronts by different nations and for various purposes. In many respects it was so global that it can be hard for young readers to understand. Breaking its main events into small bites for a timeline makes it easier for them to track the events that led to the conflict. Although some might see not link in Japan's 1931 invasion of Manchuria to later events, following the timeline will help them see that seemingly unrelated events sometimes come together. The timeline traces the rise of Adolph Hitler, the U.S. involvement in the war, the restrictions against Jews, and many other important developments in the war. Shockingly, according to the timeline, no mention of the concentration camps whose sole purpose was to exterminate the Jews and others did not occur until Dec. 17, 1942. The book is easy to read, and is filled with photographs, making it a good place to start for readers trying to make sense of the war.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new series put out by the Smithsonian. This is the second I have read in the series and I loved it. Like the one on the Civil War, it was laid out in an easy to follow timeline for kids to grasp. I will admit that there were even things that I learned as an adult. Photos are given to support the timeline. All are done pretty tastefully. Just a good, just the facts, ma'am book to introduce history and initiate discussions.