If You Were There in 1776
Grade 3-6-After briefly sketching early colonial history and citing some of the tensions leading to the break with England, Brenner presents an interesting survey of everyday life in 1776. Clothing, food, work, religion, and recreation are discussed, as are Native peoples and slaves. Also, the six largest cities are visited. Reproductions of prints and paintings illustrate the book. Information on this subject is readily available in any number of sources, such as the new "Colonial American" series (Watts), Alice M. Earle's Home Life in Colonial Days (1991) and Child Life in Colonial Days (1989, both Omnigraphics), etc. The author's inclusion of details of how peoples' lives began to change as a result of the Revolution and her accessible style are the selling points here. Both budding historians and report writers will find this title worth their time.Elaine Fort Weischedel, Turner Free Library, Randolph, MACopyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.