Why Did the Whole World Go to War?: And Other Questions About... World War II (Good Question!) - Softcover

The question-and-answer format in these books in the Good Question! series mimics the way children ask about a given subject. The questions are related to a general topic but do not follow a linear or chronological narrative. They also vary widely in scope. The format works well for Why Did the Whole World Go to War?, where Sandler includes questions ranging from the very broad, such as “What started World War II?,” to the much narrower, including “Who were the Tuskegee Airmen?” and “Why was Anne Frank hiding?” The answers, usually one to three paragraphs long, provide a digestible level of information and detail. Although the answers to very specific questions sometimes touch on larger issues, they tend to stay focused on the particulars of the matter at hand. The illustrations feel a bit younger than the text but depict the subject matter appropriately and engagingly. A time line at the end of each book sums up the material. Grades 3-5. --Miriam Aronin