The Queen's Progress
Grade 3-7-Set against the backdrop of the queen's annual "royal progress," this sumptuous picture book details the common occurrences that the monarch, her courtiers, and servants faced each summer as they roamed the English countryside-a time of relaxation for the queen but one of constant vigilance for her staff. Each letter of the alphabet gives a tidbit of information through a four-line rhyme, expounded on in an accompanying paragraph of prose text. While rhymes for two of the letters are quite forced, most are well penned. Some are light and fanciful, while others have a more serious tone. Unfamiliar vocabulary may challenge some students ("turncoats," "bevy," "gambols"), but the narrative is so interesting that they are not likely to be deterred by it. Ibatoulline's acrylic paintings are superb in their elegance and fascinating in their detail. Elizabeth's ornate gowns and her courtly accoutrements are delightfully offset by her servants' plain garb and earnest expressions, and there are many humorous touches. Large letters are rendered in fancy script and decorated in a gold scroll motif. This book could be used as an introduction to Elizabethan history, or it could serve as a model for creating alphabet books based on historical time periods. A plus for any collection.Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, LaSalle Academy, Providence, RICopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.