The Vietnam War

This is an unusually well-written, effective and fair-minded book for children. In my opinion it is appropriate for children ages 8 and over if they are good readers and 9 and over if they are not. The book details the history, cultural aspects and results of the Vietnam War. It begins with the French rule over Vietnam and ends by discussing the fate of Vietnam after the war. The writing is smooth and clear. There are many images, but none are too frightening for children. One feature that particularly pleased me (as a teacher and a parent) are charts and cartoons that explain complex ideas related to the war (for example, the idea of "one slow, four quick," or the structure of a typical Viet Cong military unit). These visuals are very effective tools for explaining quite complex ideas and facts. The only thing I would have changed about the book is the relatively limited discussion of the fate of Vietnam Vets in the US. Given the US's enormous failure to support returning vets and their ongoing issues, I think the book ought to have discussed this a bit more. Excellent and highly recommended. I would also like to note that all the Usborne book series (at all levels) that I have seen so far have been very pleasing. I welcome this new arrival in the marketplace and look forward to utilizing other books from this publisher.