Castles

by Philip Steele and Miranda Smith

Book Overview

Intricate and meticulous illustrations bring history to life in this wide-ranging castle tour that covers both the majestic splendour of the great halls and the hardships of living in a feudal society - from the building of a castle to shopping in a medieval marketplace. A magnificent 8-page gatefold opens up to a cutaway view of the castle -- both inside and out -- and lets viewers get an up-close view of all the rooms and people going about their...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1856975479
• ISBN13: 9781856975476
• Release Date: April 1995
• Publisher: Kingfisher
• Length: 64 Pages
• Weight: 1.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 10.0" x 11.9"
• Age Range: 10 to 14 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 9

Customer Reviews

Great book for kids!

This book has colorful and exciting illustrations throughout. A great book to get kids interested in knights, chivalry and European history.

For medieval history fans

This book is a wonderful source for children and adults that are learning about medieval history. The pictures are magnificent, the facts very accurate and interesting. My younger sister, previously a reluctant reader, disappeared to her room until she had read the whole book! Even after reading it, she still flips through it, just looking at the pictures and coming up with questions for further research. A great resource for a unit plan or medieval themed lesson.

A Real Gem

This color, oversized softcover book labels and describes the various parts and fortifications of different types of castles as well as the occupations and lifestyles of the people who lived in and around them. Ideally suited for kids in about grades 4-8 with an interest in castles specifically or medieval life in general. Adults will find it informative and interesting as well, though. Very nicely illustrated throughout. This book is part of a series. Other titles in the "The World of..." series look at pyramids, pirates, disasters, dinosaurs, horses and ballet. My kids fist came across this book at the library. They enjoyed it so much and it was so inexpensive we decided to purchase it for ourselves when we saw it later at a bookstore. Kids who like this book may also like David Macaulay's Caldecott-winning book titled "Castle". It too features detailed, albeit black-and-white, cut-away illustrations and diagrams describing the construction of a castle.

my 5 year old and 7 year old boys love it

wonderful illustrations, reading these books allows my kids to escape back in time.

Castles

"Castles" by Philip Steele, published by Kingfisher, is a wonderful glance into medieval life. Although written for children, this book will appeal to adults as well. "Castles" can provide a special reading time between parent and child. The historical information is presented in a colorful, easy reading format accompanied by beautiful illustrations and well-researched descriptions. Timelines, photographs, and artwork allow the reader to learn many aspects in an entertaining manner. "Castles" encompasses the social system, heraldry, knighthood, and lifestyles of the time period. This book provides a detailed glimpse into the past. Originally, I purchased this book for my nephew, but I will be acquiring a copy in the future for myself and my children. To anyone who wants to encourage their child to learn about this time frame in history, this book is perfect. By the way, I think this book will be a good time for a parent to spend reading with their child.