Product Description

Provides an in-depth look at daily life and historical events in the American colonies during the Revolutionary War, including home life, work, medicine, and play.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #172697 in Books
• Published on: 1999-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 58 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6-This eye-catching companion book to the "Felicity" stories illustrates various aspects of daily life in 1774. The layout is simple while giving a comprehensive overview of the period. Each page is overflowing with captioned, full-color photographs of authentic tools and personal items used at the time. True anecdotes and adventures enliven the presentation. Topics include growing up, chores and schooling, ceremonies and traditions, and the War for Independence. The text is short and readable with pronunciation guides provided for the more difficult words. This attractive edition will appeal to fans of the "American Girl" series (Pleasant Co.) and also be helpful for school reports.
Krista Grosick, Cuyahoga County Public Library, OH
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Painting a broader background for the Felicity stories in the American Girls series set in Colonial Williamsburg, this oversized volume offers a largely visual social and political sampler of the 1770s. Each double-page spread introduces a topic such as the plantation village, slave laws, smallpox epidemics, and the role of women during the war. The book offers plenty of information in small, digestible chunks and an occasional over-generalization that readers may swallow whole: "In America they could worship the way they wanted to." The artwork makes the largest impact. The typical spread displays a variety of small, colorful illustrations that might include period paintings and engravings, photos of artifacts and restored sites, and various watercolor portraits of Felicity and others. No attempt has been made to indicate the source or date of period artwork; in fact, the book offers no source notes or even an index. Still, this is good, attractive browsing material for Felicity fans who want to know more about her times. Carolyn Phelan

Customer Reviews

Colonial Life Becomes "Real" in Felicity's World/1774
I was amazed to find this title at the Texas Library Association Conference in Houston, Texas last week. The book jumped out at me when I passed the American Girls exhitbit booth. The colorful cover conveys a realistic scene from Felicity's time in U. S. History that took me back over 200 years. From the first page to the last, I was riveted to find out more details. The paintings, maps, and drawings help to tie together how colonists lived and carried out their daily chores in their families and in their communities. Cutaways and aerial scenes take the reader into the action of the time, especially those where girls and women were active in the Revolutionary War: Sybil Ludington who was a Patriot soldier and Eliza Wilkinson who refused to play her guitar for a British soldier. I give this book 5 gold stars and hope to read the other Welcome to the American Girl books soon.

Probably learned more about early Virginia from this than in school!
This is not just for young girls. I have bought this and the other Welcome to _____ World (Felicity, Kit, Kirsten, Samantha, Molly, Kaya, Josefina and Addy) for women from 5 years to 85 years. All have been engrossed and enchanted. Best American history teaching you can find! Do not hesitate to add this and the other AG Welcome books to your library.

educational picture book
My 8 1/2 yr old 3rd grade daughter has been interested in the American Girl dolls as play dolls for several yrs, however, her interest has been enhanced now that she is an avid reader, able to speed through the easy chapter bks about the lives of each historical character. Felicity is a young girl who lives in Williamsburg, VA around American Revolutionary War time. We vacationed in Williamsburg, VA for a long wkend 10/2007 & took the 1st 5 Felicity bks, as well as this historical reference one along. This one is essentially a picture bk related to the time & life of the Felicity character, but it is very educational about 1774 American colonial life. It has both illustrations & photographs. The bks were an excellent adjunct to our vacation. My daughter loved seeing all the places that Felicity had been in the fictional adventures. The bks made her understand & appreciate the historical significance of Colonial Williamsburg. She saw numerous items in person that were pictured in the Felicity's World bk. The American Girl "World" bks about the historical time of each character are fun & educational. They are excellent as the next step after a young reader is captivated by the time period setting of whichever character she is following.