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America As It Happened: A moment-by-moment journey through time, from prehistory to the present day
A newspaper-style family reference guide to American history from earliest times to today, with a running timeline and QR codes linking to The Washington Post archives.
Experience the events that shaped the USA from earliest times to present day, as if it were all breaking news! Newspaper-style features bring history to life – from articles reporting events as they unfold to obituaries of key figures, recipes, inventions and more. Live through the events that shaped America, including the American Revolution, the Civil War, the Civil Rights movement and the September 11 attacks. Experience America’s fun and playful side, too, from the invention of bubble gum to the wondrous debut of Mickey Mouse. And learn about some unexpected and lesser-known sides of American history, like teen hero Sybil Ludington’s ride during the American Revolution and the Navajo Nation’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. A running timeline and special context boxes support readers’ understanding of how episodes in America’s past have influenced its present day and its future.
Developed in collaboration with The Washington Post and featuring QR codes linking to podcasts and archival resources, this richly illustrated reference helps families explore how America’s past continues to shape its present and future, and is a powerful and compelling commemoration of the 250th birthday of the USA.
Experience the events that shaped the USA from earliest times to present day, as if it were all breaking news! Newspaper-style features bring history to life – from articles reporting events as they unfold to obituaries of key figures, recipes, inventions and more. Live through the events that shaped America, including the American Revolution, the Civil War, the Civil Rights movement and the September 11 attacks. Experience America’s fun and playful side, too, from the invention of bubble gum to the wondrous debut of Mickey Mouse. And learn about some unexpected and lesser-known sides of American history, like teen hero Sybil Ludington’s ride during the American Revolution and the Navajo Nation’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. A running timeline and special context boxes support readers’ understanding of how episodes in America’s past have influenced its present day and its future.
Developed in collaboration with The Washington Post and featuring QR codes linking to podcasts and archival resources, this richly illustrated reference helps families explore how America’s past continues to shape its present and future, and is a powerful and compelling commemoration of the 250th birthday of the USA.
- GenresChildrens
192 pages, Hardcover
Published March 17, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 30, 2026
This giant compendium concept book, written in collaboration with the Washington Post, will engage history buffs, both with its clever presentation of story and its broad coverage. Young readers will definitely want to start with the clear and detailed infographic on pages 8-9 that explains the idea behind the book and how to use it. Writers, teachers, historians, and Post journalists have crafted mock newspaper stories that report on exciting developments from prehistoric times to the present. Complete with headlines, illustrations, and graphics, each piece is written in the present tense as if the events are unfolding in real time with the “reporter” there to cover them. For example, “Drought Empties Pueblos: Mesa Verde People Abandon Their Homes” is set in 1300 in what will later become Colorado. Alongside the story is a large illustration of Mesa Verde, as well as smaller images of the people who lived there, adding visual appeal. A recurring feature, a “Note From the Future,” explains that these evacuees are ancestors of today’s Pueblo tribes, including the Zuni and the Hopi. A detailed timeline runs along the bottom of each two-page spread, continuing throughout the book and placing events in clear historical context. On the Mesa Verde page, the timeline notes the concurrent abandonment of Cahokia and founding of the Aztec empire. Each century opens with a unique color scheme, a summary of the time period, and a map marked with important events, which for the 1800s (for example) include the Gold Rush, Sitting Bull’s defeat of Custer, the discovery of a triceratops, the Civil War, and the forced removal of the Cherokee people. Just as in a real newspaper, momentous moments get bigger headlines, as in “American Colonies Break Away” in 1776, which stretches across two pages. In contrast, a page from the 1920s includes several smaller articles, announcing “Monkey Trial Verdict!”, “Pilot Crosses Atlantic”, “Pop! A New Kind of Gum”, “America’s Newest Star is a Mouse!”, and “Stock Market Collapses”.
The “stories” are engaging and well-crafted, with context thoughtfully woven directly into each article. This is a history for all Americans and the editors don’t shy away from hard topics, such as the terrifying spread of measles among native people, the reluctant admittance of a disabled student to UC Berkeley, and the 1973 standoff at Wounded Knee. There’s even reviews of landmark books, such as Phillis Wheatley’s Poems on Various Subjects (1773) and Sarah Winnemucca’s Life Among the Piutes (1883). The book’s chronological structure makes its organization clear, though readers can easily dip in and out. Its short yet substantive articles are likely to spark curiosity and encourage further exploration. Back matter includes a substantial glossary (atomic bomb, capitalism, Congress, coronavirus, enslave, refugee, supremacist, etc.), a bibliography (mostly websites – nice to include but not that helpful for students), sources for all quotes, and a 10 page, highly detailed index. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
The “stories” are engaging and well-crafted, with context thoughtfully woven directly into each article. This is a history for all Americans and the editors don’t shy away from hard topics, such as the terrifying spread of measles among native people, the reluctant admittance of a disabled student to UC Berkeley, and the 1973 standoff at Wounded Knee. There’s even reviews of landmark books, such as Phillis Wheatley’s Poems on Various Subjects (1773) and Sarah Winnemucca’s Life Among the Piutes (1883). The book’s chronological structure makes its organization clear, though readers can easily dip in and out. Its short yet substantive articles are likely to spark curiosity and encourage further exploration. Back matter includes a substantial glossary (atomic bomb, capitalism, Congress, coronavirus, enslave, refugee, supremacist, etc.), a bibliography (mostly websites – nice to include but not that helpful for students), sources for all quotes, and a 10 page, highly detailed index. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
July 5, 2026
This hefty coffee table book explores American history through the format of newspaper articles. However, these are NOT reproductions of actual newspaper articles from American history. These are fictional articles written solely for this book, with the idea that you can make history feel more immediate by writing about past events as if they just happened.
Since this book is intended for kids, the central conceit will be a hurdle to overcome, rather than an appeal factor. The publisher is marketing this for kids ages 10-14, but since most kids have never read a newspaper, they are likely to find the format and layout confusing and difficult to follow.
The book begins in pre-history, long before newspapers were invented, and it felt extremely gimmicky to read about ancient events in the format of a newspaper. Once we reach the era where print media was a standard form of communication, the book feels less gimmicky, but it is not authentic at all. The articles reflect modern sensibilities and priorities, and they rarely feel honest to how people viewed or experienced things in the past.
When I initially skimmed through the book, I detected a staggering amount of bias, both in the selections of what subjects to cover, and in what the writers said about them. If this was merely an individual author's perspective on American history, then it wouldn't bother me as much, but the authors muddy the waters by writing FOR the past, not just about it.
Most of these fake articles are written with the goal of guiding the reader to the beliefs and feelings that the authors find desirable. Some of the articles are matter-of-fact and straightforward, but most of them are written to make a point. While this may reflect the realities of journalism, it is not a well-rounded introduction to American history.
A key part of a genuine historical education involves confronting what people thought, felt, and believed about the past as they were experiencing it. This also involves humility, because as you look back on things (e.g., slavery) that are so clearly dreadful and inhumane, you have to stop and question what you and your society accept as normal, that future generations will look on in horror. This book invites none of that reflection or critique. It takes our current moment in history as the standard by which all shall be measured, and it shows no interest in truly engaging with the past, beyond the ability to make judgments on it.
I would be vastly more interested in a book that actually collected real newspaper articles from historic archives. A modern author could make annotations to share a retrospective view on different topics, or to react to things modern people find unsavory, while still letting the past speak for itself. Since this collection of fake articles doesn't capture the voice of the past or provide real historical scholarship, I see no point to this book.
I received a free copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Since this book is intended for kids, the central conceit will be a hurdle to overcome, rather than an appeal factor. The publisher is marketing this for kids ages 10-14, but since most kids have never read a newspaper, they are likely to find the format and layout confusing and difficult to follow.
The book begins in pre-history, long before newspapers were invented, and it felt extremely gimmicky to read about ancient events in the format of a newspaper. Once we reach the era where print media was a standard form of communication, the book feels less gimmicky, but it is not authentic at all. The articles reflect modern sensibilities and priorities, and they rarely feel honest to how people viewed or experienced things in the past.
When I initially skimmed through the book, I detected a staggering amount of bias, both in the selections of what subjects to cover, and in what the writers said about them. If this was merely an individual author's perspective on American history, then it wouldn't bother me as much, but the authors muddy the waters by writing FOR the past, not just about it.
Most of these fake articles are written with the goal of guiding the reader to the beliefs and feelings that the authors find desirable. Some of the articles are matter-of-fact and straightforward, but most of them are written to make a point. While this may reflect the realities of journalism, it is not a well-rounded introduction to American history.
A key part of a genuine historical education involves confronting what people thought, felt, and believed about the past as they were experiencing it. This also involves humility, because as you look back on things (e.g., slavery) that are so clearly dreadful and inhumane, you have to stop and question what you and your society accept as normal, that future generations will look on in horror. This book invites none of that reflection or critique. It takes our current moment in history as the standard by which all shall be measured, and it shows no interest in truly engaging with the past, beyond the ability to make judgments on it.
I would be vastly more interested in a book that actually collected real newspaper articles from historic archives. A modern author could make annotations to share a retrospective view on different topics, or to react to things modern people find unsavory, while still letting the past speak for itself. Since this collection of fake articles doesn't capture the voice of the past or provide real historical scholarship, I see no point to this book.
I received a free copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Review of advance copy
Humans can sometimes feel disconnected from the events of the past, especially when those events are presented in a format that emphasizes just how long ago they occurred. This book brings historical moments into the reader's immediate past in the form of engaging newspaper-style displays, written as if the events happened only yesterday. Each two-page spread resembles a traditional newspaper, including attention-grabbing headlines, concise, exciting articles, and relevant accompanying imagery. From the very distant past through to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this book chronicles hundreds of years of history in the land now known as the United States of America. Throughout the book, timelines across the bottom of each page offer readers a guide through which to better understand when certain moments occurred within the context of history, and occasional asides from the future enhance the reader’s comprehension on a larger scale. Since these articles are designed to be told as if the events happened only yesterday, they account for these moments in an informational context without reflection about how each situation affected the future. This unique approach gives readers the opportunity to consider how contemporaries of the featured events might have felt in the moment while being able to reflect on their own knowledge of the future to see how the pieces fit together. Back matter includes a glossary, index, and bibliography to support the rest of the text. Filled with a wealth of information spanning the known history of the land upon which the United States of America sits, this book is a memorable and engaging chronicle of history as it happened and will appeal to history enthusiasts of all ages. This is an excellent addition to library collections for middle grade readers and up, especially in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book can only loosely be described as "history" since it is filled with some of the worst propaganda that I have ever read. I don't know how they think they can get away with outright lies about well-known historic events when any child could just look up the facts for themselves and know that this book is full of untruths. But most people probably won't bother to look up the facts, and so the writers seem to get away with it.
It's really sickening how the creators of this book take basic history and skew the perspective toward their own political ideology, rewriting history to fit their own made-up narrative. History should be about the bare facts with no bias, leaving it to the reader to make their own judgment, but this book doesn't allow that.
It's really a shame, because the basic concept of telling history in little snippets written to look like news articles is such a fun idea! There are also QR codes where you can listen to a podcast or hear part of an interview with the contributors. It's a beautifully produced book with wonderful artwork and photographs and a great design! If only they could have stuck to the truth.
There are a lot of controversial issues that are addressed in this book - racism, slavery, LGBTQ+, wars, atomic bombs, school shootings, taxes, economics, presidential races, global warming, terrorists, immigration, and a host of other issues that America has grappled with in her long history.
This book is such a huge disappointment.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review.
This book has screened for sensitive content on the Screen It First website, where you can see for yourself if the book is appropriate for your family. https://screenitfirst.com/book/2593577
It's really sickening how the creators of this book take basic history and skew the perspective toward their own political ideology, rewriting history to fit their own made-up narrative. History should be about the bare facts with no bias, leaving it to the reader to make their own judgment, but this book doesn't allow that.
It's really a shame, because the basic concept of telling history in little snippets written to look like news articles is such a fun idea! There are also QR codes where you can listen to a podcast or hear part of an interview with the contributors. It's a beautifully produced book with wonderful artwork and photographs and a great design! If only they could have stuck to the truth.
There are a lot of controversial issues that are addressed in this book - racism, slavery, LGBTQ+, wars, atomic bombs, school shootings, taxes, economics, presidential races, global warming, terrorists, immigration, and a host of other issues that America has grappled with in her long history.
This book is such a huge disappointment.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review.
This book has screened for sensitive content on the Screen It First website, where you can see for yourself if the book is appropriate for your family. https://screenitfirst.com/book/2593577
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Publisher’s Spotlight/What on Earth! for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
America As It Happened is an engaging non-fiction children’s book. Instead of writing about the past as a dry and academic effort, the book is set up like a scrapbook with newspaper articles. The headlines and the text are written as if the events throughout American history happened the day before.
The book starts with a section of life in America before 1600, followed by sections on each century up to today. There are also occasional uses of QR codes throughout the book for further information, such as an audio short. Some of my favorite articles include Witch Trials End, a two-page spread on the Salem Witch Trials, Enslaved Woman Wins Historic Court Case, where an enslaved Jenny Slew won her freedom through the courts, and Inferno Rages in Peshtigo, which is about the fire in northern Wisconsin that happened the same day as the Great Chicago Fire and wiped out 17 towns and killed more than 1200 people.
I was happy to see that the correct context was applied to events that happened in the 21st century with very little spin, such as Capitol Under Siege, which tells the true story of the January 6th insurrectionists. I was a little bit surprised by this because this book is from The Washington Post, after all, whose real-life paper plays pretty loose with facts.
America As It Happened is an engaging non-fiction children’s book. Instead of writing about the past as a dry and academic effort, the book is set up like a scrapbook with newspaper articles. The headlines and the text are written as if the events throughout American history happened the day before.
The book starts with a section of life in America before 1600, followed by sections on each century up to today. There are also occasional uses of QR codes throughout the book for further information, such as an audio short. Some of my favorite articles include Witch Trials End, a two-page spread on the Salem Witch Trials, Enslaved Woman Wins Historic Court Case, where an enslaved Jenny Slew won her freedom through the courts, and Inferno Rages in Peshtigo, which is about the fire in northern Wisconsin that happened the same day as the Great Chicago Fire and wiped out 17 towns and killed more than 1200 people.
I was happy to see that the correct context was applied to events that happened in the 21st century with very little spin, such as Capitol Under Siege, which tells the true story of the January 6th insurrectionists. I was a little bit surprised by this because this book is from The Washington Post, after all, whose real-life paper plays pretty loose with facts.
April 16, 2026
This book is confusing to read. I say that kindly because the book's potential and general scope is amazing. Written in a "newspaper style" with the events' information presented as currently published material when it actually occured thousands of years ago, is difficult for the reader to understand. For a child, especially a child that has not ever read an actual newspaper, to read without confusion and to actually gain educational insight into the history of America, it would prove daunting. It would be better to write the timeline and facts with illustrations for pre-newspaper events. When and if the "Washington Post" has actually printed news articles about the periods covered, then that would be acceptable to include in a newspaper format.
While events we don't like to think about actually occurring in our nation's history, some are best discussed with children in late teens. I perceive this book as being for elementary and middle school age students to adults. Parents should peruse the book or read thorough evaluations to determine appropriateness.
Coverage of the historic timeline of the Americas is appreciated by this reader, and I applaud the Washington Post for this attempt to cover our nation's history so close to the USA's 250th birthday.
I received a copy via the Library Thing Early Reviewers Program.
While events we don't like to think about actually occurring in our nation's history, some are best discussed with children in late teens. I perceive this book as being for elementary and middle school age students to adults. Parents should peruse the book or read thorough evaluations to determine appropriateness.
Coverage of the historic timeline of the Americas is appreciated by this reader, and I applaud the Washington Post for this attempt to cover our nation's history so close to the USA's 250th birthday.
I received a copy via the Library Thing Early Reviewers Program.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐ Nonfiction | History | Educational
Thank you to Publisher Spotlight for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
America As It Happened presents U.S. history in a unique newspaper-style format, organized chronologically like a timeline. Each article is designed to feel as if the events are happening in real time, giving readers an immersive sense of life during each period. Facts, dates, and historical context are sprinkled throughout, making it both informative and engaging.
One standout article covers the witch trials, providing a memorable glimpse into the challenges and fears of the time. The book also includes QR codes linking to short Washington Post interviews related to the articles (this feature wasn’t functional in the ARC, but should work in the final publication).
The book concludes with a forward-looking piece noting that the United States will celebrate 250 years of independence on July 4, 2026, a fitting capstone to the historical journey.
America As It Happened is an inventive and educational read that brings history to life for readers of all ages.
Thank you to Publisher Spotlight for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
America As It Happened presents U.S. history in a unique newspaper-style format, organized chronologically like a timeline. Each article is designed to feel as if the events are happening in real time, giving readers an immersive sense of life during each period. Facts, dates, and historical context are sprinkled throughout, making it both informative and engaging.
One standout article covers the witch trials, providing a memorable glimpse into the challenges and fears of the time. The book also includes QR codes linking to short Washington Post interviews related to the articles (this feature wasn’t functional in the ARC, but should work in the final publication).
The book concludes with a forward-looking piece noting that the United States will celebrate 250 years of independence on July 4, 2026, a fitting capstone to the historical journey.
America As It Happened is an inventive and educational read that brings history to life for readers of all ages.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
America As It Happened is an interactive journey through the history of America. There are QR Codes readers can scan to get other material if they want to look further into the different subject matters found in its pages. It has great potential as an educational tool in the classroom, but it is a lot of information for such a short book. They tried to pack it all into a more manageable story, but it almost makes it more daunting with how it's written.
The way the material is presented, like a news paper, is both engaging and distracting. If someone doesn't know how to read a newspaper, it's going to be confusing to know where to start and how to follow along. The colorful photos and pictures, capturing moments in history, were well worth a second glance. However, the information is so overwhelming that it would be best used as supplementary material for different lessons throughout U.S. History rather than something you read all at once.
Thank you NetGalley and Publisher Spotlight for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The way the material is presented, like a news paper, is both engaging and distracting. If someone doesn't know how to read a newspaper, it's going to be confusing to know where to start and how to follow along. The colorful photos and pictures, capturing moments in history, were well worth a second glance. However, the information is so overwhelming that it would be best used as supplementary material for different lessons throughout U.S. History rather than something you read all at once.
Thank you NetGalley and Publisher Spotlight for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Quite an unusual but effective, way to bring history to light. There is a vast amount of American history to cover so using the form of newspaper articles creates an interesting and clever way to grasp the varied subjects. It certainly bound to create interest in perusing through many of the pages. Graphics add another dimension in drawing the reader in to keep reading more. Be a great reference book to have on hand. A invaluable source of information right at your fingertips. Great way for adults to reacquaint themselves with their history too. Particularly useful this year (2026) as the United States celebrates its 250th year anniversary of independence.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
April 14, 2026
America As It Happened: A Moment By Moment Journey Through Time, From Prehistory To The Present Day is a brilliant, one-of-a-kind, fascinating, and unique read! This book is unlike anything I've ever read before with it's newspaper like articles and brilliant formatting on each page. This helps the history feel alive, active, and present. I love that this book is in collaboration with the Washington Post so readers can dive deeper by listening to podcast links if they desire. Most of all I adore how women's history and the true history of various minority groups is represented. This book gives voice to history I had never heard before.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
American history is presented in an updated format that will appeal to middle grade and older students. Even controversial people and events receive well-balanced treatment. Newspaper-style headlines and articles plus timelines deliver news of events and people in small, quick-to-read parcels. Emphasis on an event’s importance is shown by relative size of articles and graphics. QR codes provide links to more subject matter content for deeper research.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was one of the lucky recipients of this book from the publishers. It makes for a great coffee table book. It is a collections of the more prominent news stories and/or happenings through the years. While slightly slanted, it still makes for a great conversation starter.
March 29, 2026
Best for 4th-6th graders to read snippets of or to use as a jumping off point for a newspaper unit as the amount of information is overwhelming.
March 24, 2026
I fell asleep during history class in school, couldn’t pay attention and retain the information even if I wanted to, and this book was so fun and incredible for me to read through! I was legit standing by my husband while he was cooking dinner and I was reading all this stuff with such enthusiasm like, “oh my gosh did you know about this?!” Of course the history buff he is, he did know and got a good chuckle out of my learning in that moment.
Overall, very cool book! Love that it has timelines and is written in newspaper form! Don’t know if everyone likes that but it was certainly appealing to me and made it easier to read. And of course pictures to look at!
I enjoyed it, good one for the bookshelf for sure!
Overall, very cool book! Love that it has timelines and is written in newspaper form! Don’t know if everyone likes that but it was certainly appealing to me and made it easier to read. And of course pictures to look at!
I enjoyed it, good one for the bookshelf for sure!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews