The deadliest conflict of the 20th century is brought into sharp focus in this powerhouse issue, starting with a recap of the political strong-arming that paved the way for World War II. For kids intrigued by this era of American history, the photos and accounts captured here will be hard to put down. They’ll gain a clear understanding of the events that triggered the war, learn how the Nazis and Fascists shaped themselves into the Axis Powers, and read a gripping account of Pearl Harbor. Details about Hollywood’s take on World War II, for kids who like movies, are also featured, as well as inspiring stories about the women who stepped into men’s shoes to keep the country running.

Accounts of the concentration camps and darkest days of World War II, for kids, are written in a sensitive and straightforward way that will spark classroom discussion. They also get an in-depth look at the Battle of Stalingrad, which was when the tide turned for the Allies, and pick up cool trivia like the fact that 400 Navajo Indians served as secret codetalkers during the war. Kids will be riveted by details on “The Longest Day” – when the American forces landed in Normandy – and by President Truman’s difficult decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to bring an end to a war that, in the end, claimed over 50 million lives.