An ambitious fact book about children from the past, present, and near future highlights millennium years. Jackson (The Book of Slime,1997,etc.) explains that the next millennium will actually begin with the year 2001, and provides information on marking the new year, historically. She draws on many sources to present facts on 11 children living in either England or America, beginning with a peasant boy in the year 1000. "I own only the clothes on my back, and they once belonged to my grandfather," the ten-year-old boy states in a short monologue. A list of facts that identify the era follows in double-page spreads, one devoted to each child. There is Eleanor, a child of the upper classes, betrothed at age seven and living in a nunnery in 1100. Alice, ten, is a chambermaid in 1400; her toys are tops, soap bubbles, shells, and stones. An eight-year-old in Pennsylvania describes ice cream in 1900 and a boy in California rings in the year 2000 while making microwave popcorn and phoning his sister in Australia. While only two pages illustrate each century, Ellis includes countless revealing, domestic details that extend the text, and make vivid these children's lives. An astute and provocative book for browsing, or for tying into assignments on the approaching millennium.

With the millennium fast approaching, this is a perfect time for looking back. And that's exactly what this book does, and in a way that children can understand and will respond to. The book is oversize, and each two-page spread has a list of facts and a first-person narrative that introduces a child living in Great Britain at the beginning of each century between A.D. 1000 and 1600 and in America beginning in 1700 and through the year 2000. For instance, the first child we meet is John, a 10-year-old peasant boy living in Nottingwood: "My family works the land six days a week and gives our lord a portion of the crops. Our lord owns furs, jewelry, silver coins, and one book…I own only the clothes on my back." The facts include information about the rarity of books and that the New Year begins on March 25. What makes this book so appealing--and gives it such a cohesive feeling, despite the time span covered--is its design. Each spread looks into the home of the child, rather like looking inside a doll house. Eleanor, a nine-year-old in the year 1100, lives in a nunnery, and the pictures depict different rooms in the nunnery. The art shows the nuns and the girl at prayer, doing chores, and in a tower window. Each spread is decorative as well as informative and invitingly bordered with a design of the era. An enlightening preface and author's note explain more about life in other times, calendars, and dating; an extensive bibliography is appended. Teachers and librarians find lots of uses for this; kids will just like poring over it.

From the year 1000 to the year 2000, author Ellen Jackson marks each Turn of the Century with a double-page spread, illus. by Jan Davey Ellis. Starting off in Great Britain, then shifting to America in 1700, 11 children--speaking on New Year's Day--each launch a new century, offering brief descriptions of their lives. Their ages span from seven to 10 and social positions range from a nine-year-old "Lady" being educated at an English nunnery in 1100 to a ship's boy in 1500 who roasts a rat for dinner while at sea. A Turn-of-the-Century timeline poster/banner is available with purchase.

This informative picture book introduces youngsters to history through 11 fictitious children, each living in a different period. Their stories are told on the eve of each century from 1000 to 2000. For each child, a first-person, day-in-the-life account accompanies a brief list of facts about that particular time. For example, readers meet a 10-year-old peasant boy in the year 1000 and discover that during his lifetime books were rare, many children died before their seventh birthday, and England was called Angle-land. The many full and three-quarter page watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations vividly reflect each child's life and provide additional information about the period depicted. Detailed borders add decorative touches. An excellent list for further reading is included. A fine resource to add to any social studies or history curriculum and a delightful and timely choice as the year 2000 approaches.

Fancifully illustrated and filled with fun facts (who knew barbers in 1600 pulled teeth?), this quick tour through the ages is well worth taking.

What would it have been like to be a child in the year 1000? As the new millennium looms on our horizon, Ellen Jackson takes us back in time to look at the old one in this unusual and informative picture book. Each double-page spread covers the life of an English or American child on New Year's Day at the beginning of each century. We meet Rhys, a merchant's son in 1300 who complains of maggots in his meat, and Annabelle, an earl's daughter in 1600, who marvels at her father's new custom of smoking. In addition to these first-person descriptions, there is a list of interesting facts about each century. Did you know that in 1400 most people ate with their fingers?
The colorful illustrations are full of detail and bordered in the style of an illuminated manuscript of the 12th century. Children will enjoy seeing the progression of civilization depicted in these drawings. Although only Caucasian children are shown, there is much variety in their social position. While the book would not be useful for actual research, it may well spark a child's interest in history, which can be satisfied by utilizing the extensive bibliography.