ABSTRACT
The characteristics the teacher looks for in books for use in the classroom are a detailed, highly specific treatment of the subject and a clear reliance on source material, written or archaeological, and not only in the illustrations. These are especially difficult to find in primary school books. G. Middleton's Saxons and Vikings is almost alone in providing source material for 8- to 12-year-olds. Batsford have two which would be very useful in the secondary school: R. I. Page, Life in Anglo-Saxon England is interesting, scholarly and well produced, with many black and white photographs. An attractive collection of pictorial source material is the Historical Association's The Early Middle Ages from their English History in Pictures series. It has 16 pages, half in colour, of photographs and reproductions, with short useful notes at the back. R. Sutcliff's version, The Dragon Slayer is well written and is illustrated by Charles Keeping.
