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After the Declaration of Independence was signed and the first feelings of euphoria had worn off, the leaders of the new United States set about creating a government and they put together a set of Articles of Confederation which would allow the states to defend themselves and allow their citizens to protect their liberties. Unfortunately, once the war against the British was won, it soon became clear that these Articles of Confederation were woefully inadequate. Under the Articles, the thirteen colonies had so many powers that it was almost as if they were thirteen independent countries. Each state had different money, there was no cap on taxes, and the overall result was that rebellion broke out in many parts of the country. Finally Congress called a convention to meet in May of 1787. The time had come to change the Articles. Under the strictest of secrecy the delegates decided that an entirely new form of government was needed. There would be a strong national government which would have three branches and there would be a Constitution to guide the policies of that government. Of course it took a long time for the delegates to agree on these matters but they did eventually come to the end of their discussions and the Constitution at last was approved. Readers who don't know much about what happened after the exciting happenings of the Fourth of July 1776, will find that this story will help them understand how the United States came to have its current form of government. An engaging and well written text, and an easy to follow graphic novel format makes this story from history perfectly suited to readers who normally find non-fiction stories uninteresting. This is one of the excellent titles in the highly recommended Graphic Library series.-- Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Review Capstone Press seems to want to ensure that they have the corner on the market created by a federal mandate that all schools receiving federal funds observe Constitution Day on September 17 each year. In this case, the book appeals to the easy-read market by using a graphic novel approach that actually works fairly well. The book concentrates on the struggle amongst the Founding Fathers to resolve the tricky issue of how their new country could reach a balance between putting all power in one leader's hands and the chaos that might come of a loose union of independent states. In effect, the graphic story book style of breaking the narrative into many boxes reflects the way the Constitution was the result of a complex interplay of many individuals and points of view. The illustrations, done in a classic comic book style with period dress and background help set the historical context. In addition to the story itself, the book includes a glossary and index, bibliography, and a clever link to internet resources that are age appropriate.-- Children's Literature Comprehensive Database The format of this informational book on King Tut differs from most of the books on this subject. Author Burgan has chosen a cartoon format to examine the curse of King Tut. Burgan has Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon, the two men responsible for the excavation of the tomb, tell the story. There are only four chapters in this thirty-two-page book, but the material is presented in an interesting and visual way. The reader feels he is reading a cartoon page with colorful figures telling the story. Vivid blue, purple, and gold illustrations are used throughout the book. Chapter one opens the story with Carter heading to Egypt to find King Tut's Tomb. Chapter two describes the opening of the tomb and the riches found inside. When Lord Carnarvon falls ill and dies and soon after his dog mysteriously dies, a mummy's curse is suggested as the reason for the deaths. Other people who were associated with King Tut's Tomb also died. The last chapter takes a look at the curse. Is it real or a myth? Many people thought the curse was real, while others thought the curse had been made up to generate more interest in King Tut. Scientists have said that some type of mold or fungus that grew in the tomb caused the deaths of the people who entered the tomb. Another mystery is how King Tut died. Some people think he was murdered because x-rays of King Tut's skull show he suffered from a blow to the head. A glossary, further reading, a bibliography and internet sites are included.-- Children's Literature Comprehensive Database When Howard Carter found the tomb of Tutankhamen there was no way he could have known how much fuss and speculation his find would cause. Of course the find itself was remarkable. Though the tomb had been broken into long ago, the thieves were disturbed and very little, if anything, was taken away by them. Thus it was that Howard Carter, and his sponsor Lord Carnarvon, were able to explore a tomb that hadn't been opened for hundreds of years and that was filled with beautiful treasures of all kinds. Unfortunately the find gave birth to a rash of rumors which said in essence, that the tomb was cursed and that all those who were involved in the project would have an untimely death. The sudden and unexpected death of Lord Carnarvon only fed the rumors. Did the ancient Egyptian priests put a curse on the tomb before they sealed it up? This is an excellent account of the discovery and subsequent excitement that occurred in the 1920's when King Tutankhamen's tomb was found. Without sensationalizing the events, the author presents the story in a clear and interesting way. He also provides a lot of background material about the ancient Egyptians, their beliefs, rituals, and customs. The comics style artwork in the book makes the story especially accessible to readers who are put off by pages of text. This is one of the titles in the excellent Graphic Library published by Capstone Press. This series includes biographies and descriptions of events of historical interest.-- Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Review

Author Information

Michael Burgan has written numerous books for children and young adults during his nearly 20 years as a freelance writer. Many of his books have focused on U.S. history, geography, and the lives of world leaders. Michael has won several awards for his writing, and his graphic novel version of the classic tale Frankenstein (Stone Arch Books) was a Junior Library Guild selection. Michael graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor's degree in history. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with his cat, Callie.

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