Even though there have been wars during their lifetime, young readers continue to have a particular fascination for the one war where Americans fought each other. Most children study it in school; a surprising number continue to pursue it on their own. Yet, there is shockingly little out there for kids in the 8-12 age group. The Big Book of the Civil War fills that niche bountifully. The book is organized so that it’s easy to see how the social and political groundwork was laid and to follow the course that led up to the opening volley-the firing on Fort Sumter-and beyond. Each phase of the war is presented clearly in a two-page spread that explains all the critical events that propelled the conflict forward. Also included are maps of Civil War America as well as the major battlefields. In a concise presentation of historic facts, this book never fails to also capture the imagination.