Elephants and Golden Thrones

Elephants and golden thrones: inside China's Forbidden City

Written by Trish Marx

Photographs by Ellen B. Senisi

Interest Level: Grades 4-7

Reading Level: 7+

This book tells the story of some of the emperors, princesses and even a royal elephant who lived in the Forbidden City during a five hundred year period. Readers learn Emperor Yongle commissioned the Forbidden City and was its first inhabitant. According to Chinese beliefs, the emperor was not only the ruler of China, but also a religious leader and the one who could ask for blessings from the heavens for the people of China. In building the Forbidden City, Yongle was providing an outward sign of this supreme power. 

Each chapter begins with an anecdotal account of the person it is about and then provides historical details in the following pages.  In the following pages we learn impressive details about the city, including how many buildings it has (980!), how funeral ceremonies proceeded and how you can still see traces of those rituals in China today, and other details of daily life within the city's walls.

One of the strengths of the book is its extensive use of photos taken in the Forbidden City as well as reproductions of artwork depicting daily life in the time of the emperors. The writing conveys the sense of supremeness commanded by the emperors and provides enough interesting detail to keep the reader interested. There is a timeline of each emperor's reign, a glossary and a bibliography at the back of the book. Unfortunately, there is no index or table of contents making this book less than useful for those doing reports since the entire book must be read to find desired facts. This book would be useful as an additional resource in the classroom.

Marx, T. (2008). Elephants and golden thrones: inside China's Forbidden City. New York, NY: Abrams Books for Young Readers.

Warriors

Warriors

By Catherine Bereton

IL: Grades 5-8

RL: 4+

This book has great shelf appeal. It opens from a magnet "lock" in the middle of the front cover and looks like a gamer kid type of book. The book showcases 10 warriors from different centuries, from the Spartans through the Zulu warriors. It then pairs them in 5 battles and declares a winner.

I seriously love this book. After each battle we learn about each warrior and their strengths. The role they played in their society is detailed and details about that society are provided as well. Photos and drawings are clear, crisp and appealing. They clearly let you know when a picture may be somewhat unrealistic, as in the case with a picture of a Gladiator, which has the caption, "This Gladiator from a movie in 2000 is unrealistic, but dramatic."

All of the details are broken up on the page, making it undaunting to read and perfect for reluctant readers. It includes an index as well as a glossary.

I can see some of my gamer kids really enjoying this. And to think it's actually an accurate book! This would be a perfect addition for any  6th or 7th grade classroom or a school library. 

Harpur, J. (2008). Warriors: all the truths, tactics, and triumphs of history's greatest fighters.  New York, NY: Atheneum.

You wouldn't want....

You wouldn’t want to be an Inca mummy
Written by: Colin Hynson
Illustrated by: David Antram

IL: Grades 4-7
RL: 5+
  










This series has 20+ titles and the format is especially appealing to the age group for whom they are written. They are factually correct and contain all the gory bits and details, accompanied by comical drawings that they really speak to their audience. 

These books are published by the Salariya Publishing Company, a company that seems to have figured out what they do well and continue to do it.

This particular volume appealed to me because it seems that there isn’t a lot of browsing/ quick read type material on the Ancient Incas,  which in California must be taught according to the State Standards. This would make a good addition to any middle school library or 7th grade classroom.

While reading ...Inca mummy I found myself learning things about the Inca Empire that I was clueless of. For instance, did you know that once the dead Sapa Inca (which means “only emperor”) dies all but his eldest son (the new Sapa Inca) had to parade the mummified body through all the empire for a year followed by mourners?

Each chapter is only 2 pages and contains a lot of illustrations, making them very accessible to all readers. The “Handy Hints” contained in each chapter alternate between hilarious, gruesome and just plain “eeew!” Even better, each contains a glossary and an index, which are sometimes missing in funner type non-fiction. 

Pick one up. I bet you’ll find yourself laughing, learning, groaning, and maybe even feeling squeamish all in one short read.

Hynson, Colin. (2008). You wouldn't want to be an Inca mummy. New York, NY: Franklin Watts.