Who was the Sun King?  How did samurai become sumo wrestlers?  What was the Black Hole of Calcutta?  And why was a California town named Ground Hog Glory?

Told in the straightforward engaging style that has become Susan Wise Bauer's trademark, THE STORY OF THE WORLD covers the sweep of human history from ancient times until the present.  Africa, China, Europe, the Americas-find out twhat has happened all around the world in the centuries before ours and in our own time.  This read-aloud series is designed fro parents to share with elementary-school children, or for older readers to enjoy alone.  Introduce your child to the marvelous story of the word's civilizations!