Castle: Medieval Days and Knights

Book review by Dawn Friedman, Common Sense Media
Castle: Medieval Days and Knights Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 7+

Lots of information packed into appealing pop-up.

Kyle Olmon History 2006
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Parents say

not rated for age

Based on 1 review

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this pop-up book is so chock full of historical information that kids won't be able to take it all in on the first round. A bloodless joust is illustrated, and readers learn about armor and battles.

Community Reviews

jllsmom
jllsmom Adult
April 9, 2008
not rated for age

Very Cool...but

This is a really cool book and the pop-ups are fantastic. However, it doesn't sugar coat much about midievil times and is even a little sarcastic at times. For example, it makes the anology that being a peasant was not much better than being a slave and says (and illustrates) that criminals were tortured. This sparked many discussions with my six year old who is currently enamored with knights and castles.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Historical facts about castle life in medieval days populate this astonishing pop-up book.

Is It Any Good?

Partners Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart launched their new imprint with this impressive historical pop-up book. With the high standards and meticulous care characteristic of their previous work, this history book both informs and entertains. Each page boasts mini-pages with further details and yet more pop-ups. The attention-grabbing 3-D illustrations may distract kids from the words the first few times they open the book.

But when they're ready to dive in, they will find a wealth of solid historical information. The subject matter lends itself to the complexity and breadth of the pop-up, with detailed castles leaping out of the page and inviting kids to peek around corners and through windows. It's easy to imagine living in the castle, especially with the details about everyday life, including what castle-dwellers ate, wore, and how they spent their time.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what it must have been like to live during medieval times. They can compare our romantic ideal of castle life with the more stark reality presented in this pop-up. Families with castle-obsessed kids might want to check out our list of recommended Web sites.

Book Details

  • Author: Kyle Olmon
  • Illustrator: Tracy Sabin
  • Genre: History
  • Book type: Non-Fiction
  • Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
  • Publication date: August 1, 2006
  • Publisher's recommended age(s): 9 - 12
  • Number of pages: 6
  • Last updated: July 12, 2017

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