Synopsis
Lower the drawbridge! Would you like to know what life was like in a castle long ago? Then come spend the next twelve months in this castle. Check out eight action-packed scenes for a bird's-eye view of the life and work of lords, ladies, knights, maids, and more. See the castle on market day and during an attack by an enemy lord. Watch knights compete in a tournament. Keep your eye on the calendar too. By spending a whole year in a castle, you can watch events unfold as the seasons change.
Children's Literature
The story of a lord and lady who live in a castle is represented well in a pictorial book about a year in the stately abode. The author indicates which objects readers should look for on each page. Each page shows the same view of the castle grounds, but at different times of year. The months are shown to the right of each illustration, and this lets the reader know what would be happening in a castle at that time. In and around the castle, there are many hilarious events, as well as some serious events. The words indicate which depicted actions are the most important. Readers must examine the entire picture to find the events that are described. Each page also has smaller scenes that represent each page. The scene that the page is representing is in brighter colors. This allows the reader to focus on what is happening on that page while at the same time previewing the scenes of the pages to follow. The back of the book gives a glossary of words that the reader may not understand, as well as resources for learning more about castles. This would be an outstanding asset to a curriculum on medieval times. This book is part of the "Follow the Action" series. Reviewer: Rachel Miller