1,000 YEARS AGO ON PLANET EARTH

How did people live 1,000 years ago? Collard (Animal Dads, 1997, etc.) presents a different region or civilization on each spread, introducing the Anasazi and Mississippian of North America, Mayan of Central America, Chimu of Peru, Vikings of Northern Europe, Muslims of the Middle East, Shona of West Africa, the Chola dynasty of India, Song dynasty of China, and the Aborigines of Australia. For most civilizations, the author selects high points, but Central and Southern Europe is a place where “culture and civilization were floundering,” while the spread on Northern Europe provides little information on how people lived, stressing instead that the Vikings raided “defenseless towns and villages across Europe and Asia” where they “slaughtered their enemies, ransomed rulers, and seized slaves, silver, and other valuables.” For the most part, however, Collard captures the essence of a culture in a few brief paragraphs. Hunt attempts to provide additional clues to the culture, showing clothing, artifacts and the architecture, but the facial expressions are often fierce, or at least somber, and the emphasis on blood in the Aborigine and Northern European spreads taps into stereotypes. Nevertheless, this is a good introduction that will encourage more exploration. (map, further reading) (Picture book/nonfiction. 9-12)