Young Riders of the Pony Express

If you have a reluctant reader that struggles with reading books you assign for school and prefers comic books to library books, you might want to try out one of these visually-oriented topical history titles. Each 32-page book explores an event from American or world history in a format very similar to a comic book. Text is conveyed through boxes of narration and dialogue balloons, accompanied by full-page, dramatic full-color illustrations and scenes. Additional facts, a glossary, suggested internet sites, recommended reading, a bibliography, and an index are included as well. While the text is fairly minimal, the essence of each event comes across pretty well here, and each title is a fast read. Although a serious reader will not get much out of these, they offer a viable alternative to struggling or reluctant readers, filling their minds with something more educational - and real - than typical comic-book heroics. - Jess