Textbooks vs Tradebooks

Well summer is getting into full swing and so are we.  After 6 weeks of pared back, core subjects (math, spelling, grammar) concentration, we are adding back Social Studies and Science.  For these two subjects I have decided to do lapbooks.  Now the beautiful thing about lapbooking is the information can come from so many different places. 

photo credit: ginnerobot via flickr

Our first unit is on Ancient Greece.  Being the social studies teacher that I am I knew exactly what I wanted to cover (and found the free templates here).  Information sources include a history textbook, non-fiction books, websites, and documentaries.  So which is the most valuable?  I think that each have their own strengths and weaknesses.  By using different sources it gives a depth and breath to the learning that would not happen with just one kind of information.  Maybe I should have named this post Textbooks and Tradebooks.

So what do you think, textbooks, tradebooks, both or neither?