Reviews (2)

Hands on History
We are homeschoolers using this book in part of a unit on Inventors. My eight year old is able to read and enjoy the history behind the different inventions. I thought it would just be a "how to" book, but we are both really enjoying the well written historical information in this book. It really makes Leonardo and the world he lived in come alive.I like to just browse through the book and look at all of Leonardo's sketches as well.
Amazing facts
Wonderful book for kids who love to learn. Great info and facts even for adults. Highly recommend. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity Books - General    2. Biography & Autobiography - Art    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Handicraft    6. History - Renaissance    7. Inventions    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile Science Fair Projects    10. Juvenile literature    11. Science & Nature - Experiments & Projects    12. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Art   

Reviews (1)

i can't wait to get the whole series
This is one of the best biographies aimed at children that I have ever read.The main narrative is interspersed with sidebars about different historical explanations about relevant topics such as the invention of paper, ranking of workers within the guild system, Copernicus,The illustrations by True Kelley are light-hearted, accessible, and they carry the text.How else do you explain a painting? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Artists    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography - Art    4. Biography & Autobiography - General    5. Biography & Autobiography - Music    6. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    7. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    8. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    9. Children: Grades 4-6    10. History - Renaissance    11. Inventors    12. Italy    13. Juvenile Easy Readers    14. Juvenile Nonfiction    15. Juvenile literature    16. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / General   

Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    2. History - Renaissance    3. Juvenile Nonfiction    4. Art history    5. History    6. Middle Ages, 600-1500   

Reviews (5)

Great overview for young people of Queen Elizabeth's life
Diane Stanley's biography of Queen Elizabeth I of England follows the great Queen's life from her father's divorce of Catherine of Aragon, to Elizabeth's death in 1603. Without bogging down in the details of Elizabeth's seventy years, Stanley has created a broad look at the important events in the Queen's life. Beautiful, historical and perfect for kids
Like all the Diane Stanley books that we have my children and I loved this one.The illustrations are colorful and very fitting for the time.I have always been interested in history and have searched for books that my girls can relate to.The story of Queen Elizabeth is something all children should be familiar with. I think Ms. Stanley has a wonderful way of making history interesting for young readers.

Enchanting Start to a Lifetime Love of History
I first read this book when I was in third grade and I must have checked it out from the library 100 more times. I was fascinated by the beautiful illustrations and by the true story of Elizabeth I. It really got me into history. Now I read 800+ page books about Tudor history and I can't help but think back to the days when i used to recreate the illusrations using my own crayons and muse over every sentence in the book. Starts a lifetime love of history, and for me, an obession with the Tudors. The illustrations are perfect and the content isn't too dumbed down, but it isn't too hard.Recommended for any child who ever wanted to be a princess or ever showed any interest in history. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1533-1603    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography - Historical    4. Children's 4-8 - Biography / Autobiography    5. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    6. Children: Grades 2-3    7. Elizabeth    8. Great Britain    9. History - Europe    10. History - Renaissance    11. Juvenile Nonfiction    12. Juvenile literature    13. Kings, queens, rulers, etc    14. Queen of England,    15. Queens    16. Women    17. Historical figures    18. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Historical    19. United Kingdom, Great Britain   

Reviews (1)

It may be a children's book, but I learned so much from it!
After reading two of Joyce McPherson's other books, I knew I was in for a treat when I picked up River of Grace, the biography of John Calvin.While the language is easily understandable for a child, it holds the interest ofthe adult.I have even seen my husband, who rarely picks up a book,reading this one.John Calvin is famous as a theologian, but I found outlots of things that I didn't know about him.It made his life come alivefor me. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Religious    5. Juvenile Nonfiction / History / Renaissance    6. Juvenile literature    7. Reformation    8. Religious    9. 1509-1564    10. Biography & Autobiography - Religious    11. Calvin, Jean,    12. History - Renaissance   

Subjects:  1. 16th century    2. Admirals    3. Biography    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    5. Children: Grades 2-3    6. Children: Grades 3-4    7. Explorers    8. Great Britain    9. History    10. History - Exploration & Discovery    11. History - General    12. History - Renaissance    13. Juvenile History    14. Juvenile Nonfiction    15. Juvenile literature    16. Seafaring life   

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - History - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Europe    5. History    6. History - Renaissance    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. Material culture    10. Renaissance   

Reviews (1)

Fantastic Eyewitness Book!
This is one of the best Eyewitness books.It taught me a lot not only about Leonardo DaVinci but also about the beginning of the Renaissance.The focus on Italy was quite illuminating and I wonder why this topic is rarely introduced in school K-12.Usually one has to wait until high school if not college to learn about the time period.This book is a great introduction for students and I will share it with mine. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography - Art    2. Children's 9-12 - History - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. History - Renaissance    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Juvenile literature    8. Reference - General    9. Renaissance    10. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Art   

Editorial Review

Michelangelo Buonarroti, one of the greatest artists of all time, wasnot exactly a noble and humble man. Irritable, arrogant, and impatient, hisperfectionism and expectations drove away many potential friends, and evenprovoked one would-be friend to hit him in the nose, crushing it "like abiscuit." However, what's truly important for us today is that this manultimately became an artistic genius, mastering the three arts of theRenaissance: sculpture, painting, and architecture. From his early years, whenhe created the Read more

Reviews (6)

easy to read biography for kids and adults alike
Michelangelo is an interesting look into the life of Renaissance superstar artist, Michelangelo Buonarroti from birth to death. Born in Italy March 6, 1475, Michelangelo was destined to become an artist and knew this is what he wanted from a young age.He was raised in various homes, by a nurse in the village of stonecutters and later in the home of the ruler of Venice, Lorenzo Medici who recognized his talent and brought him to live with him as his own sons. At the age of thirteen he begged his father to become a lowly artist's apprentice working in fresco for the time of three years.His true love was though not painting, but sculpture. Michelangelo eventually created some of the worlds' most famous art artworks including the sculpture of David and the painting inside the Sistine Chapel and worked on countless commissions for several popes and rulers trough out Italy.Many interesting facts that children will be sure to pick up on, including Michelangelo's work with corpses to study the human form and his feud with another Renaissance superstar Leonardo Da Vinci, keep this book interesting and exciting.
A Wonderful Biography of Michelangelo
Our homeschooling family is currently interested in studying art and artists.This book is very much about Michelangelo's personal life.I always think of the Sistine Chapel when I think of him, so it was nice to be reminded that he preferred sculpture.It did provide beautiful pictures of his works and just the major ones were covered.I thought this was perfect for beginning learners.The book was long for my 9 year old, but my 11 year old could sit through it easily and enjoyed it.A nice biography.

Entertaining for my five-year-old daughter
With popular culture grabbing my daughter's attention so powerfully, it was nice to have some high brow material that could compete with the Disney genre.My favorite part was when my girl asked, "Why doesn't God just stretch his finger a little more like this [stretched her finger] to touch Adam?"The whole book is a single bed time reading for a parent to a child.It reads a bit like a cliff hanger with the reader along for the ride through Michaelangelo's challenges and accomplishments. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1475-1564    2. Art - History    3. Artists    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography - Art    6. Children's 9-12 - Biography / Autobiography    7. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    8. Children: Grades 3-4    9. History - Renaissance    10. Italy    11. Juvenile Nonfiction    12. Juvenile literature    13. Michelangelo Buonarroti,    14. Juvenile Nonfiction / History / Renaissance   

Subjects:  1. 16th century    2. 17th century    3. Children's 12-Up - History - Military / War    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. History    6. History - Military & Wars    7. History - Renaissance    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Military art and science    11. Military history, Modern   

Reviews (3)

Adventure, suspense, a rollicking story!
What a good adventure!The true story of Hugh O'Donnell, who is kidnapped by the English at 15 and must escape home to his castle by the sea, is full of fun and excitement.Hugh makes a great hero; he's funny and brash and eager for a fight and he acts like a teenager.He loves his parents and his home and he carries himself with courage and with honor.As far as I know, the history is sound.It is a fun way to learn a little of Irish history with an action hero who really existed.

An incredible adventure story that actually happened!
This book is extremely well written. It's filled with wit, adventure, and courageous characters. It's about a teen-age prince who goes on an incredible journey from a prison in Dublin where he was being held, to his home in Donegal, to save his province from Engish envaders.Set in a time ofwar and hatred, this book is so action-packed it's hard to believe it's atrue story!

Exciting and inspiring story from Ireland's history.
Red Hugh Roe O'Donnell, with the help of the MacSweeny, O'Neill and O'Toole clans fights for the freedom of Ireland in the late 1500s.This true episode (one of the greatest in Irish history) is recounted with verveand wit.Even though billed as a "young adult" book, I believeeveryone will enjoy this exciting and inspiring tale.If you are lookingfor a way to interest anyone (young or old) in European history, give themthis book -- I guarantee it will whet their appetites.Excellent allaround! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1571?-1602    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 2-3    4. Fiction    5. General    6. History - Other    7. History - Renaissance    8. Ireland    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Juvenile fiction    11. O'Donnell, Hugh Roe,    12. O'Donnell, Hugh Roe   

Reviews (1)

Great book, terrific value!
This high quality, hardcover art history book discusses various aspects of the northern and Italian Renaissance.It features countless reproductionsof paintings, drawings, and sculptures by virtually every Renaissanceartist you can imagine.Also included are interesting historicalinformation and little-known facts about some of the best-known works ofart.Suitable for use in study by art teachers and art enthusiasts alike. Looking through this book is like walking through several Italian andFrench art galleries!Exceptional value! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 15th and 16th centuries    2. Art    3. Art - History    4. Art, Renaissance    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    6. Children: Grades 4-6    7. History - General    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile Nonfiction / History / Renaissance   

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - History - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 2-3    4. Children: Grades 3-4    5. Crusades    6. First, 1096-1099    7. History - General    8. History - Renaissance    9. Juvenile History    10. Juvenile Nonfiction    11. Juvenile literature   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. History - Europe    5. History - General History    6. History - Renaissance    7. History: World    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Renaissance    10. World - General    11. Europe    12. European history: c 500 to c 1500    13. c 1000 CE to c 1500   

Subjects:  1. 1483-1520    2. Art, Italian    3. Art, Renaissance    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. History - Renaissance    6. Italy    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. Raphael,    10. Leonardo    11. Michelangelo Buonarroti    12. Raphael   

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography - Historical    2. Children's 4-8    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Grades 3-4    5. History - Renaissance    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Historical   

Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    2. History - General History    3. History - Renaissance    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Renaissance   

Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    2. History - Renaissance    3. Juvenile Nonfiction   

Subjects:  1. 476-1492    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Civilization    5. Europe    6. History    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. Pictorial works    10. Reference - Atlases    11. Renaissance    12. Juvenile Nonfiction / History / Renaissance   

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography - Historical    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Europe    6. History - Europe    7. History - Renaissance    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Renaissance