Everything Battles: Arm Yourself with Fierce Photos and Fascinating Facts

by John Perritano, James Spears

NG Kids Everything Battles captures all of the action and valor of the battlefield, as well as the trappings that go with it. Kids will browse eye-popping photographs and illustrations, as they peruse fascinating facts and information about armor, weapon, uniforms, technology, military jets, battleships, military technology, top secret intellgence and more. Topics will include five ultimate battles, the greatest commanders of all time, and an entirely interactive chapter, in which kids will deciper a secret code, develop their own battlefield strategy, and more. Throughout this dynamic book, layers of authoritative information and fun sidebars and facts make historic events accessible and fascinating for young readers.

Genres: Childrens, Nonfiction, History, War

Paperback

First published March 12, 2013

About the author

Over the years, I have written and edited a variety of books, magazines, Web sites, newspapers, and other publications, as well as authoring a number of non-fiction titles.

Most recently, I was a senior editor at Scholastic, the largest publisher of children’s books in the world. I was in charge of hundreds of fiction and non-fiction titles. Currently, I am a full-time freelance writer, penning non-fiction books and articles. My client list includes National Geographic, Discovery.com, Scholastic, various textbook publishers, and others.

Reviews

[Holly Scudero]

War is an unfortunate part of life, and it is only natural that youngsters are curious about the ins and outs of it. But how to provide the knowledge children crave without getting bogged down in gory details, and also without glorifying such a violent topic? National Geographic provides an answer with “Everything Battles,” a fact-filled book just for kids that will tell them everything they ever wanted to know and then some. Children can explore the elements of battle throughout history, from Egyptian chariots to WWII fighter planes. They can read about how battles are conducted on land, by sea, and in the air. They can learn all about weapons throughout history, the evolution of body armor, and what kinds of technology may influence fighting in the years to come. There are fantastic pictures throughout, and every single page is packed with facts and historical tidbits; the information in here covers battles the world over, too, not just ones out of American history. “Everything Battles” may not be filled with everything there is to know about warfare, but it's certainly a good place to start!

This review originally written for Sacramento/San Francisco Book Review.

[K.L. Bernard]

Battles have been apart of every cultures history since the beginning of time. Although bloodshed occurs, these conflicts have decided the fate of nations, cultures and civilizations. Extraordinary photography and art work will give readers an up close and personal look at famous battles like the Civil War, Cajamarca, World War II, Waterloo and Huai-Hai or Chinese Civil War. If you were wondering whose in charge of sending soldiers into battle, readers will learn about, Kings, generals and even roman rulers such as Julius Caesar. During World War I, 12,000 miles of trenches scarred the battle fields of Europe. During the American Revolution men ate rock soup and even their own shoe leather when their rations were depleted. There is nothing truly exciting about war, but its history and reasoning will have readers engaged, surprised and eager to learn. The back of the book has an interactive glossary, websites and books for more information. Parents and teachers will love having this guide on the shelves.

[Barbara]

Divided into four sections, Get Ready for Battle, The Battlefield, Weapons, Gadgets and Gear, and Military Exercises, this title is packed with colorful photographs and interesting facts about warfare, including the five ultimate battles, the military chain of command, spies, and predictions of how wars will be fought in the future. Readers even have a chance to test their military savvy by answering strategy questions. And while the book's focus is war, the authors have been careful to discuss the impact war has on civilians and the need for peace rather than war. Notes from a former war correspondent add to the book's authenticity and appeal.