Book Description

She was a queen whose strong will, shrewd diplomacy, religious tolerance and great love for her subjects won the hearts of her people and the admiration of her enemies.

Elizabeth was born into an age of religious strife, in which plots and factions were everywhere and private beliefs could be punished by death. When she became queen, her counselors urged her to marry quickly and turn the responsibilities of governing over to her husband, But she outwitted them by stalling, changing her mind; and playing one side against another, as she steered her country to the glorious era of peace and security that would be called the Elizabethan Age.

Elizabeth's forceful personality, colorful court, and devoted subjects come vividly to life in this stellar picture-book biography. When it was first published, Good Queen Bess was named a Notable Book in the Field of Social Studies, an American Library Association Notable Book, a Booklist Editors' Choice, an American Bookseller Pick of the Lists, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book, and an IRA Teachers' Choice.

In this welcome reissue, celebrated author and illustrator Diane Stanley and her husband, Peter Vennema, paint an impressive portrait of the remarkable queen who loved her people so dearly and ruled them so well.

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.

Stanley's artwork accurately shows the clothing and styles of the time. Anyone familiar with the portraits of the various members of the royal family will easily recognize them in Stanley's illustrations.

Stanley does an excellent job of taking two very complicated but highly significant subjects, the formation of the Church of England and why Henry VIII desperately wanted a son, and explaining them in a simple enough manner that someone with little or no historical background can understand them. Children will be able to read this biography without becoming lost in the multitude of people in Elizabeth's life, or confused about the meaning of the important events.

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.

Literally changed my life
When I was seven years old my mother gave me this book for Christmas. That was nearly nine years ago and I've since become an Elizabethan "buff" I read everything on her I can get my hands on. This is a wonderful book for any kid who has ever shown an intrest in history or being a queen or a king. Superbly adapted for the younger set this well written and engagingly illuatrated book on Elizabeth I's life is historically acurate. And for me anyway what looks like a life long fascination.

This book should be in print!
Many texts used in the Children's Literature classes I have been taking refer to this book. I had to borrow it from my professor because I couldn't even get it from the library. It is a wonderful book and I want to add it to my library. Queen Elizabeth I is made very real for young readers in Diane Stanley's work. I hope to see it on the list of reprints soon. ... Read more

Amazon.com

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 Pieta (at age 25), to his 40 years of tormented work on amonumental tomb for Pope Julius II, to his greatest masterpiece, the paintingsin the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo astounded people with his almostotherworldly talent.

Diane Stanley's well-researched, vivid narrative captures the life of thecreator of some of the world's most beautiful, heart-wrenching works of art. Herillustrations are fantastically elaborate and include details of many ofMichelangelo's sculptures and paintings. Michelangelo is a perfectintroduction to art and art history, with plenty of compelling backgroundinformation about the Renaissance and life in 15th and 16th century Italy.Stanley has written many other award-winning picture-book biographies, includingLeonardo da Vinci andCleopatra. (Ages 9 to 12)--Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

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.

The Life and Times of Michelangelo.....
Born March 6, 1475 in the little stonecutter's village of Caprese, about fifty miles east of Florence, and left in the care of a nurse, Michelangelo "fell asleep to the odd lullaby of chisel striking stone. Years later he remarked that his love of sculpture must have come to him along with his foster mother's milk." From an early age, Michelangelo wanted to become an artist. His father, ashamed that his son wanted to enter such a lowly profession, tried to literally beat the idea out of him, but the headstrong and determined child would not give in, and in 1488 was apprenticed to the famous painter, Domenico Ghirlandaio. After only one year his unrivaled talent was noticed by Lorenzo de'Medici, a great and generous art lover and patron. He brought Michelangelo into his palace and treated him as one of his sons, encouraging his art. But upon Lorenzo's untimely death, Michelangelo was sent back to his father's house, and cast in the role of family breadwinner, "a role he would play for the rest of his life." And so it was that the difficult and disagreeable, perfectionist Michelangelo's greatest masterpieces, The Pieta, David, and the paintings on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, were commissioned works by patrons and popes..... Diane Stanley's intriguing biography takes the reader on a compelling and suspenseful journey as she details the life and times of the greatest artist of the Renaissance. Her easy to read and engaging text is rich in history, art, drama, and anecdotes, and complemented by her ingeniously creative and innovative illustrations. Together word and art captures the essence of the arrogant and tormented artist, and brings Michelangelo and the Renaissance to life on the page. Perfect for youngsters 9-12, Michelangelo is a well researched and spellbinding introductory biography, and another marvelous addition to Ms Stanley's superb series.

Beautifully illustrated, well researched, and fascinating
Award-winning author Stanley presents a stunning picture book biography of true Renaissance man Michelangelo Buonarroti, who came to master the arts of sculpting, painting and architecture in fifteenth and sixteenth century Italy. Stanley blends information about Michelangelo and his life as an artist with historical detail to set the scene, and then introduces a fascinating cast of personalities that include his first master Domenico Ghirlandodaio, the Warrior Pope he offended, and his contemporary Leonardo Da Vinci, who was Michelangelo's envy and rival.
Stanley reproduces and discusses Michelangelo's greatest works (David, the Sistine Chapel, the Pieta) then adds details such as fresco painting techniques and the gruesome necessity of dissecting cadavers to study anatomy. Quotes from Michelangelo's own letters enrich the text; it is a tragedy that he destroyed many of his personal papers before his death.
A full-page illustration to exemplify the narrative compliments each page of text; the text pages are decorated with period coins, coats of arms, stonecutting tools, portraits, sketches and reproductions. The illustrations are an unusual mix of paintings which feature scanned images of Michelangelo's works of art, including drawings and sketches, sculpture and paintings.
Stanley's paintings (which show the housing, dress and goods of the poverty stricken as well as the palace-dwellers) seem flat when paired with Michelangelo's dimensional artwork, and the contrast is a bit awkward. Her paintings imitate the style of the times in color, layout and subject, while still following the narrative. A richly-hued historical map of Italy explains the government of the time as well as the layout of the country, while the author's note opposite gives a defines the Renaissance. Bibliography & permissions are provided; the absence of a timeline and glossary may disappoint teachers.

I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN!
While browsing through a local bookstore I chanced upon Michelangelo by Diane Stanley. What a beautiful book! Not only were the pictures captivating, but the information was excellent. Michelangelo's famous picture of the creation of the moon and stars that graces the Sistene chapel is on the cover. My children were enthralled as I read how Michelangelo spent many hours dissecting human cadavers at a local morgue, becoming so familiar with the human body that he was able to make his works come alive with breathtaking detail. I will look for more books by this same author. Children(and adults)will read this book over and over. A great addition to your home library! ... Read more

Book Description

This is Joyce's third biography and continues the fine work she has already done in A Piece of the Mountain (Blaise Pascal) and The Ocean of Truth (Sir Isaac Newton). The River of Grace is unique in that it is the only biography of Calvin available for the young adult market. Joyce focuses especially on Calvin's childhood and youth, tracing his days at the university and the circumstances of his conversion. She traces his early and precocious leadership of the Protestants in France and his flight from France to Basel, Strassburg, and Geneva when King Francis I began executing Protestants. The result is a warm and affectionate picture of the leader of the second generation of the Protestant Reformation. "... if Luther sounded the trumpet, Calvin was the one who orchestrated the score."Written on a 5th/6th grade reading level, but worth reading out loud to younger students. Older students and adults will also find this to be a valuable introduction and an aid in understanding the author of the Institutes of the Christian Religion. ... Read more

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 of the 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 out lots of things that I didn't know about him. It made his life come alive for me. ... Read more

Book Description

This is a comprehensive history book about the Renaissance geared for middle school and secondary school students. It spans the major developments and achievements in art, religion, politics, economics, and culture in Western Europe during the 14th - 16 centuries. Included are a series of useful maps, a timeline, a guide to pronunciation, and suggestions for additional resources. ... Read more

Book Description

Step back in time and learn all about life in a Renaissance town. Through beautiful illustrations and thoroughly researched information, you will learn how people in these towns lived, what they did to earn a living, how the towns were built, and more. ... Read more

Book Description

Discover the Renaissance -- an age of experimentation, creativity and discovery.

Here is a stimulating introduction to the world of the Renaissance -- from the achievements of Leonardo da Vinci to everyday life in an Italian city-state. Filled with superb, full-color photographs of works of art and beautiful artifacts, Leonardo brings the Renaissance to life, offering a unique "eyewitness" view of this exciting period of history. See Leonardo's design for exploding cannonballs, inside a Renaissance home, the original platform shoes, and one of the first pocket watches. Learn how one family dominated a city for more than two centuries, how gold leaf was applied to altarpieces, when mirrors were first used, and why the ancient world was an inspiration for the modern one. Discover how the invention of the printing press changed the world, how apprentices made pigments from ground beetles, why glue was used as a beauty aid, why Leonardo studied a bird's wing to make a flying machine, and much, much more! ... Read more

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 of war and hatred, this book is so action-packed it's hard to believe it's a true 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 verve and wit. Even though billed as a "young adult" book, I believe everyone will enjoy this exciting and inspiring tale. If you are looking for a way to interest anyone (young or old) in European history, give them this book -- I guarantee it will whet their appetites. Excellent all around! ... Read more

Book Description

Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries was a period of unsurpassed splendor in the history of art. this extraordinary era saw the revival of interest in classical culture and philosophical attitudes, as well as new technical advances in oil painting, architecture and sculpture. It was the age of great artistic geniuses such as Masaccio, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Van Eyck, Durer and Titian. This book takes the reader on a fascinating journey through Europe in the age of the Renaissance, from Italian courts, Flemish tapestry workshops and German printworks to English universities, French castles and Spanish ports.

Reviews (3)

The Book is great, however...
We already owned a copy of this book when I decided to order another one as a gift. The book is designed to help children see that God made all people of all colors and it takes all of us to make up this world. It shows how dull the pictures would be if only one color is used. The only problem I had was that the description of the item # I ordered from Amazon.com didn't specify that I wasn't ordering another copy of the book - I was ordering a 5 pack of Crayon Kingdom Coloring Books??

Crayon Kingdom more than a colorful book!
When I first opened the Crayon Kingdom, I thought it was a beautiful book full of interesting characters like the Veggie Tales but as I started to get into the story, I found it to be much more. Teaching our children about different cultures and how we all work together to make a beautiful world so is important and this author does a wonderful job of doing just that! The book is easy to read and is suitable for the child to read by himself or for a parent to read to the child. The working parent will like the appreciate this book as it can easily be read in just a short period of time and teach values that will last a lifetime! Recommend you pick up a copy soon!

Great Read!
I thought the book was easy to read and understand. I liked how the author used crayons as her subject. Crayons are something all kids love! I liked how she showed how the crayons can get along even tho they are different colors. Just like how people can get along no matter what color we are! I would recommend this book! ... Read more