These selections from the History of Holidays and Festivals series (8 titles) dive into the meaning and history behind cultural and religious celebrations. For each, discrete chapters cover what the day symbolizes, its history and origin, and past and present observances. The straightforward text is supported by sidebars, graphics, charts, graphs, and full-color photos. Critical-thinking prompts encourage compare-and-contrast activities, digging deeper into topics, and writing exercises. All titles include timelines, glossaries, and brief bibliographies, which should please report writers. These offer timely updates for holiday collections.

Young readers are treated to a thorough history of many of America’s popular celebrations. Each title answers the basic questions a novice researcher or curious mind would ask about a holiday. When did it start? How is it celebrated? Why is it important? A detailed history of each holiday is provided, along with vivid descriptions of traditional clothes, foods, dances, and activities. Readers will be able to trace the evolution of traditions through generations. Sprinkled throughout the text are primary source quotes and chapter questions that ask readers to put into practice strategies for reading informational text. The books conclude with a timeline, a glossary, an index, links to the publisher’s online resources, and critical thinking questions with writing prompts. VERDICT A strong presentation of research material with the added benefit of built-in information literacy exercises.