I should have known that I was destined to be a historian, given that this was my childhood picture book. My mother's copy is dogeared and threadbare and beloved. The scholarship is not necessarily the highest, and some of the illustrations are over-romanticised Victorian engravings, but it gives an excellent thumbnail sketch of every ruler of England from Edgbert (giving it a leg-up on many other survays, which begin with William the Conqueror or, if they are better, Edward the Confessor) to Elizabeth II, listing birth date and place, marriage(s), children (legitmate and illegitamate), date, cause and place of death, and place of burial, with a essay ranging from two paragraphs to two pages, depending on the importance of the ruler.

It also gives the same information for all the rulers of Scotland, and information, although not as complete, for the native princes of Wales. Not authoritative, but filled with a great deal of basic information, and illustrations of places and tomb monuments.

I own an earlier version of this wonderful chart dated in the mid-1980s. It was very beautiful and I would spend quite a bit of time standing in front of it looking at the detailed genealogy and admiring the illustrations of the coat of arms. I had it hanging in my dorm room and it is now a little too ragged for proper display.
Remember, Amazon[.com] has this listed as a paperback, but it is a large wall chart, not a book.

This teaching resource has it all: interestingly written minibiographies, informative background information, anti busy- work reproducibles, and "makes you want to do them" activities. There are other resources out there but most seem to cater to the younger grades. I think this one is best for the age range of eight to twelve. There are no color pictures; but with all of the other books availale to purchase or borrow from the library representing this time period, that is not an issue.
There is quite a bit of information packed into the 94 pages. I found myself reading it out of general interest in addition to gather information for my students.
I highly recommend this resource book!

I liked The Knight of the Golden Plain because it was mysterious and it also was great. I would give it 500 stars if I could. I am almost 8 years old.

Gervaise's father wishes that his son will grow up to be a Knight of the White Cross, and so Gervaise leaves his dying mother and travels to Rhodes. When he arrives at Rhodes he never dreams of all the adventures he will be undertaking, and the excitement he will be involved in. First comes the rescuing of Ricord and Santoval, after which the Grand Prior knights Gervaise and his comrade, Ralph, which is a great privilege for the boys. Some time later, after visiting the house of Signor Vsados, Gervaise mentions to Ralph that he did not like the looks of the Greek who had also been at the Vsados household. Ralph laughs at him, but Gervaise's suspicions are aroused even more when he sees the man talking to a slave of the Order. After reporting to Sir John Kendall Gervaise suggests he disguise himself and go among the slaves, to try to find out if a plot is being arranged. What will he find? Gervaise has many more adventures, and also a little romance, for Claudia De Forli bestows her colours on him. Gervaise also sets an example by the boy-galley that he was put in command of. It is the only galley ever to have only young knights appointed to it. In the end Gervaise takes part in the Siege of Rhodes, which was a bloody affair. Don't miss reading this story of a gallant Knight of the White Cross!

Knights of Evermore is a fantastic book! It's exciting, entertaining, and thought-provoking. Tells the story of Gulliver Lamm, a soldier in service of the High King of Evermore, and details his adventures as he rises to the rank of knight. Full of relevent analogies and parallels to the Christian life, you can't help but learn something when you read the Knights of Evermore. Great for family devotions! Five stars!

This story takes us behind the scenes at the palace at the time that Velzquez was painting "Las Meninas". The story is told by the princess who is the principal figure in this world known portrait exhibited at the Prado Museum in Spain. The princess escorts us through a typical day at the palace. It is a heart warming story and will teach children history and also give them a cultural background of the times. Though it is a child's book, adults will also enjoy the story and the true to life illustrations.

Despite the Amazon header, "The Last Courts of Europe" was in fact edited by Jeffrey Finestone, with an introduction by Robert Massie. The book is divided into several sections: Great Britain; Russia; Austria-Hungary; Prussia; The Lesser German States; Belgium, Luxembourg and The Netherlands; France; Scandinavia; Iberia; Italy; The Balkans; and The Eleventh Hour. There are over three hundred photographs, all beautifully reproduced in sepia tone.

The selection is excellent. Best of all, there are many photographs included of lesser-known royals and less-documented royal families. Though it is easy to find photographs and information on modern royals, deposed or ruling, of almost any nation, for the Victorian-Edwardian period it is a lot harder. A good job was also done of finding photographs that demonstrate the intertwined relationships of Victorian royalty. (My personal favorite is a picture of King Nicholas I of Montenegro with his children [and their spouses] and grandchildren: it includes two Russian Grand Duchesses, two Grand Dukes, the King and Queen of Italy, a Prince and Princess of Battenberg, the Crown Prince of Serbia and a Serbian Princess, and numerous Princes and Princesses of Montenegro.)

A beautiful, beautiful book, and a must-have for anyone interested in this period of European royalty.

I would accuse Mr. Hillig of stealing my ideas if he didn't go about the act of intellectual theft in such a charming manner! I certainly have something to learn from him.

Deepak Chopra

I am fairly familiar with the art work of Leo & Diane Dillon from the covers they have done for various collections of the work of writer Harlan Ellison. Consequently, I knew even before I really looked at the cover of "Mansa Musa: The Lion of Mali" that the two-time Caldecott Medalists are particularly well-suited to illustrating the story of one of Mali's most celebrated kings in the 14th century. Author Khephra Burns tells the story of young Kankan Musa, who is taken one night by slave raiders. However, ironically, this is a story of self-discovery for the boy who has become a slave. When he was younger and asked his mother about his father, she told him "To know your father, you must first give birth to yourself." Now he is told by the man who betrayed his village to the slave raiders, "You are your own slave...You don't know who you are." Although a slave, Kankan begins to discover "Il-Rah," the Way, the Path, on which he will be tested. The story of "Mansa Musa" tells of the adventures Kankan had upon his journey through the grandeur of Africa's ancient cities.

The Author's Note in the back of the book addresses the question of how much of "Mansa Musa: The Lion of Mali" is fiction and how much is fact. The history of the Mali Empire is well documented and there are several scholarly sources that tell of Mansa Musa's golden caravan crossing the Sahara. When Burns has to fill in the gaps in his narrative, he does so with places and customs that are historically accurate (e.g., the salt city). Consequently, what we have here is a philosophical story of self-discovery, invested with the rich cultural history of a land most young readers have never heard about, and illustrated by gorgeously crafted paintings. "Mansa Musa" is a real treasure of a book, which will impress even older readers.