Stonehedge

Children's Literature

Stonehenge has intrigued people for a long time. How it was built and how it was used are unsolved puzzles that have been considered from many angles. This book begins with a look at Stonehenge past and present. It includes a map of Salisbury Plain, where hundreds of prehistoric monuments remain, as well as a diagram of the Stonehenge layout. Next it examines theories on how this engineering marvel might have been built. It considers the mystery of Stonehenge and concludes by looking at Stonehenge today and tomorrow. It includes a glossary, books and web sites for further research, and an index. This book is adequate. A much more intriguing (and less expensive) book also called Stonehenge is published for a similar age range by Oxford University Press. Its authors, Caroline Malone and Nancy Stone Bernard, who are specialists in archeology, describe the facts and theories in a fascinating, illuminating, insightful way. The OUP book has more illustrations with more descriptive cut-lines and is in all respects a more attractive, informative book. 2005, Kidhaven Press, Ages 9 to 12.
—Janet Crane Barley

School Library Journal

Gr 4-7-Slim series titles that focus on how and why these early structures were built, construction obstacles, and cultural and practical significance. Restorations, and present conditions and uses are also examined. Information is presented in a straightforward manner with lots of description, but the writing is uneven. The one or two clear, captioned full-color photographs, diagrams, or computer-generated illustrations found on each spread are well placed and will aid understanding. Some descriptions would have benefited from visuals. Dimensions and measurements are given in the inch-pound and metric systems. The basic information is here, but lots of fine books already exist on these subjects. Libraries owning Elizabeth Mann's The Great Wall (2003), The Panama Canal (1998), and The Roman Colosseum (2003, all Mikaya) may not need these titles.-Kathleen Simonetta, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, IL Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.