A great children's read about the worst children's jobs in history! ( )

This book was a Christmas gift from someone that knows I love children's literature, history and weird facts. It is intended for someone who si 10+ years of age, although a sensitive child might have some difficulty with it. Tony Robinson is British and so most of his references (money, geography, government, etc.) are U.K. or from continental Europe.

The book is amazing. It is a brief, readable history of child labour. He covers all types of labour from gong-scourer's boy to factory worker. As this is a children's overview there is not a great deal of detail, but there is enough to inform the imagination about such dangers as phossy-jaw (the deterioration of the jawbone because of the white phosphorous in the match factory), to lost limbs, to walking around all day in human excrement. Each chapter ends with a time-line so that things can be put into perspective.

The attitude about children was very different than it is today. That difference becomes quite apparent in the book. Children of today will see that they haven't always been seen as the treasured blessings they are now. Children were given the jobs no one else wanted, and mine tunnels were made smaller to save money because children could fit inside them and children could be paid less. At one time it was not uncommon for a 4 year old to work a 10 hour day. No napping allowed.

I recommend the book highly, and think it should be on every school curriculum. ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I saw Tony Robinson's TV series of The Worst Jobs in History and The Worst Christmas Jobs in History from whence this book, along with The Worst Jobs in History (which includes the adult ones), came. He makes it a lively, lighthearted educating read for children and adults alike. ( )