Bobbie Kalman's acclaimed Historic Communities Series provides a close-up view of how people lived more than two hundred years ago. Colorful photos, many taken by Bobbie Kalman herself at restored historic villages across the country, help support the fascinating information. Children will have fun learning about:

-- early homes and the settler community

-- what people wore and the crafts they made

-- how settlers made their living

-- how they spent their leisure time

-- the values, customs, and traditions of the early settlers Forts played a vital role in the settlement of the New World and were a means of refuge for soldiers and settlers. The difficult life of the soldier is detailed from the harsh living conditions to the primitive medical care they received. Children will enjoy reading about:

-- the different types of fort, including fur and military forts

-- the day-to-day lives and businesses of the community of men, women, and children who lived there

-- the "war of the forts" between Fort Niagara and Fort George