Battle of Antietam's 150th Anniversary and the Emancipation Proclamation

Today marks the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War's Battle of Antietam. This engagement was historically significant for two reasons:

• It was the single bloodiest day in the five-year conflict
• The Union victory gave Abraham Lincoln the opportunity to publicly release the Emancipation Proclamation

For young readers learning about this key event and its implications, Enslow provides age-appropriate, historically sound information via a number of titles. The Battle of Antietam is included in author Zachary Kent's 128-page The Civil War: From Fort Sumter to Appomatox. The book, part of Enslow's "The United States at War" series, includes color photographs, a reader-friendly color design, and useful chronology and chapter notes. Each title in the six-book series is available in library-bound editions for $23.95; that price represents a 25% discount from Enslow's list price.

The Battle of Antietam is also included in author Elaine Landau's The Emancipation Proclamation: Would You Do What Lincoln Did? This accessible nonfiction book uses engaging speculative questions at the end of each narrative chapter to add value to the text. Landau's 48-page work, part of Enslow's "What Would You Do?" American history series, includes color and black-and-white illustrations, a timeline, a useful glossary, and further reading suggestions. All titles in the six-book series are aligned to national Common Core standards, as well as specific state standards (including non-Common Core states).

The Emancipation Proclamation: Would You Do What Lincoln Did? is available in a library-bound edition for $17.95. That's a 25% school/library discount from Enslow's list price for library-bound editions. A paperback edition is also available for the list price of $7.95. 

Happy Birthday, Mr. President

February is the month our nation celebrates the birthdays of two presidents: Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. Both iconic leaders loom large in schools' American history curricula. For teachers, one challenge has been to place these figures in context without trivializing their significance or overwhelming students with unmanageable detail.

Books from Enslow's intriguing American history series "What Would You Do?" provides solution for that pedagogical dilemma. Author Elaine Landau's six-title series is structured to foster a variety of teaching needs, including small group exploration, whole group activity, or individual work. Each book's 48-page length, excellent illustrations, and Guided Reading Level "O" content helps create the conditions for a successful reading experience. Landau also combines speculative opportunities for students within her narrative to encourage critical thinking development. Free, downloadable teacher's guides, which includes activities in all curricular areas, are available for all books in this series.

The Emancipation Proclamation: Would You Do What Lincoln Did? drives readers to consider the Union's situation and Lincoln's options as he considered this freedom-giving declaration. George Washington Crosses the Delaware: Would You Risk the Revolution? presents the historical moment and decisions Washington faced to maintain the struggle for American independence. Both books are available in paperback from Enslow Classroom for $7.95 per title. Library-bound editions for these titles are also available.