FROM PYRAMIDS TO PALACES: Architecture around the World — Review

Thought for the Day:

“We are lonesome animals. We spend all our life trying to be less lonesome. One of our ancient methods is to tell a story begging the listener to say — and to feel — ‘Yes, that’s the way it is, or at least that’s the way I feel it. You’re not as alone as you thought.'”
~ John Steinbeck ~

Gifts for My Writer Friends:

In the agent search? HERE Diana Urban has a good post with My 6 Top Tips for Authors Querying Literary Agents.

Better scenes make for a better book. HERE is a good article from Writer’s Digest by James Scott Bell with 5 Tips to Strengthen Your Scenes.

Voice, voice, voice. Every time I read a post by an agent or author that asks what they are looking for, voice comes up. But what is it? HERE Jan Fields from the Institute of Children’s Literature has a great post on Discovering Your Author Voice.

I mentioned last week that I had been uncomfortable, but it was really more than that. I was having some serious stinging, shocky pain, and I couldn’t figure out what was going on. I was able to get in to see the podiatrist. He ordered an x-ray, and we got an answer. Somehow, even though I had been pretty good about staying off my feet, I managed to fracture a bone in my foot. I can’t figure out when or how it happened, but it did. No more whimsical walks to the kitchen to get an apple or wandering into my study to pick up a book without combining the trip with a necessary trip to the bathroom. I don’t take a single step without thinking hard about whether I can wait for another time. My daughter Sara and her family have been coming over more often, and I’m letting them do more things for me (I hate that!). They are my heroes. The pain isn’t so bad now. The doctor has ordered another x-ray for two weeks from now, so we shall see just how long this will take. It’s a good thing I have plenty of reading material!

I think this week will be the last of my non-fiction picture books for middle-graders. I don’t think I have any more in the hopper, but I can’t go into my study and dig through books either. But this is a good one to finish with. It’s a rather sophisticated book that will do well with older middle-graders and above, especially those interested in art and culture. FROM PYRAMIDS TO PALACES: Architecture around the World comes from Albatros Media as did THE SECRET LIFE OF THE FOREST that I featured last week. It looks like Albatros Media is bringing books to the US that were originally written in other languages. I have enjoyed both these books and hope they keep bringing us wonderful books from other countries. Here is my review.

When one looks around, one will see a tremendous variety in designs of structures. Young people will wonder why there are so many different looks to what are basically all buildings. This wonderful book takes young readers on a journey through time and distance to take a look at structures from the Great Pyramid of Giza to the Palace of Versailles, from the Hagia Sofia to the White House. With sections of four to six pages, there is room to show drawings of the structure as well as cut-away drawings or floor plans and close-up drawings of significant parts such as columns or turrets as well as similar structures. The text, written by Tom Velcovsky, addresses the style and how it was developed, what the influences were, and how history played a role. The writing is conversational and accessible for young readers and shows excellent research. The illustrations by Marie Kraus are spectacular in their detail, yet have the warmth and richness that can only be found in illustration as opposed to photographs. While the book is marketed to young readers, ages 10 to 14, it will appeal to older readers as well.

Please don’t forget to check for other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge’s blog HERE.