Knights & Castles: 50 Hands-On Activities to Explore the Middle Ages (Kaleidoscope Kids Books (Williamson Publishing))
Grade 3-6?Neither a history nor a craft book but a synthesis of both, Knights & Castles makes a lively introduction to the Middle Ages. Children are invited to travel back through time and imagine life in the past. Each chapter explores a segment of medieval society (the feudal system, the life of a noble, the role of the church, etc.) and provides a selection of related activities and craft projects (e.g., make an hourglass, build a catapult, a recipe for Rose Petal Bread). Food, living conditions, and the constant warfare and its subsequent influence on how people lived and played are described. The underlying theme is that the Middle Ages was a period characterized by extreme opposites, as the ideals of the time were often in strong contrast with the realities. The text is written in a breezy tone and illustrated with a combination of line drawings and blue- or purple-ink reproductions of medieval art and woodcuts. The format is a little cluttered, but not to the point of confusion. Fun and educational, this is a worthy addition.?Kathryn Kosiorek, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Brooklyn, OHCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.