One Day in Ancient Rome by G.. Kirtland - A Book Review

This book was published in the 1960s by Harcourt, Brace & World.  Written at a middle elementary level with simple plot, this would be a nice read-aloud when studying Ancient Rome.

“What was it like to live in Rome at the time of Titus Caesar? What did people do all day? What did they eat and wear and talk about? What did children play, study, get scolded for, dream of doing? All these questions—and many more—are answered in this original, sparkling story of two children who lived in ancient Rome. From earliest morning when their pet monkey wakes them, through a busy day—studying with the tutor after breakfast, marketing with Nurse, wheedling honey cakes from the cook, giving a play-pretend banquet of magnificent sumptuousness—until late afternoon and the long-promised event the children have been waiting for, the reader experiences vividly and directly the lives of a sister and brother in a patrician household. 

I thought this book was part of the One Day series because the author did write some books for that series, but every list of that series I can find does not include this title. 

“Based on meticulous research, this charming story re-creates a way of life long since gone but which children today will read about with immense pleasure and a sense of actual participation. The Latin words and expressions throughout, for which meaning and pronunciation are given in a glossary, lend spice to the whole, and Jerome Snyder’s remarkable—and authentic—drawings are full of sly humor, fascinating detail, and great beauty.” (from the dust jacket)

The author, who wrote under the pseudonym G.B. Kirtland, was a writer of various genres. Al Hine was born in 1915 and died in 1974. In 1950 he married children’s author Sesyle Joslin, and they collaborated on several writing projects.  Together they authored Is There a Mouse in the House?, One Day in Aztec Mexico, One Day in Ancient Rome, and One Day in Elizabethan England.

Hine wrote some novels for adult with adult content so don’t pick up all of his books thinking they are wonderful for children. He authored some books based on movies like Bewitched.

The illustrator of One Day in Ancient Rome was Jerome Snyder. He was born in 1916 and died in 1976 of a heart attack following a touch football game in Central Park, New York City. As an illustrator and graphic designer, he gained great success as the first art director of Sports Illustrated and later Scientific American. He also taught art at such prestigious schools as Yale and the Pratt Institute. He illustrated several children’s books including the book One Day in Ancient Rome. His drawing in this book is simple black line and whimsical. “In the absence of color, his delicate, meticulous drawings demonstrate control of line, secure draftsmanship, thoughtful interpretation and a surprising agility for caricature.”

 http://adcglobal.org/hall-of-fame/jermoe-snyder/) 

Some additional books relevant to this title and the study of Ancient Rome include:

City – David Macaulay

Growing Up in Ancient Rome – Mike Corbishley

Who Were the Romans – Phil Roxbee Cox

Stories from Roman History – Jean DeFrasne

Ancient Rome – Sophia Fenton

Story of the Romans – H.A. Guerber

Lives of Famous Romans – Olivia Coolidge

Gods & Goddesses in the Daily Life of the Ancient Romans – Peter Hicks

Beyond Amazing: Six Spectacular Science Pop-Ups – Jay Young (includes an abacus)

The Magic of Paper – Walter Buehr (includes information about papyrus)

Here Come the Elephants – Alice Goudey

Elephant Families – Arthur Dorros (Let’s Read and Find Out early science series)

A First Look at Monkeys and Apes – Millicent Selsam

The First Book of Time – Jeanne Bendick (sundials)

Tiber: The Roman River – Nora Nowlan (Rivers of the World series)

(All rights reserved. Please ask permission before copying this review or publishing it elsewhere. Thank you. Sandy Hall, February 2019)

Angel Girl by Laurie Friedman, illustrations by Ofra Amit

Angel Girl by Laurie Friedman, illustrations by Ofra Amit

Book Review by Sandy Hall

“Herman lives in a labor camp. It is 1942, and the Nazis have made him a prisoner. He is forced to work long hours. His only food is soup made of water. Soon he loses the will to go on.

“Then she appears. A young girl on the other side of the barbed-wire fence – an angel girl, bearing food and hope in the most hopeless of times. She seems like a miracle.

“For Herman, the miracles have just begun…..

“Based on a true tale of survival, Angel Girl is a story of love, hope, and the strength of the human spirit.” (quoted from the dust jacket)

This beautiful story is told by Laurie Friedman and illustrated by Ofra Amit. Published in 2008, the book tells the story of a young Polish Jewish boy of eleven caught up in the events of World War II. His mother tells him to say he is sixteen when they are taken to a concentration camp. He lives and works in the camp with the men but gradually loses hope. A young girl outside the camp begins to appear each day and throws him an apple. When the camp is liberated, he never sees her again…..that is, until one day…….

You may want to watch this youtube video about this boy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULcvUxd_Ngo. Although there has been much written and said about this story being untrue since the book was published, including Herman who later admitted it was not true, still it is a beautiful story. The book was removed from publication, which is probably why I found an ex-library copy at a thrift store. If it was reprinted without claiming to be a true story, it would perhaps then be an enjoyable read as fiction.

Laurie Friedman wanted to be an author since she was in third grade. She was born in 1964 and grew up in Arkansas. She attended Tulane University where she studied literature, and also studied at Sorbonne University in Paris, France. She spent many years writing for the advertising industry and as a free-lance writer for newspapers and magazines. Friedman has written many books for children including the Mallory McDonald chapter books and The Mostly Miserable Life of April Sinclair. I have not read or seen those but they seem to be typical modern realistic fiction. She writes, “It makes me feel better when I read about a character going through something similar to what I’m going through, and seeing how that character handles the situation.” Laurie also have written some rhyming children’s picture books.

Ofra Amit “has illustrated several children’s picture books in Israel…..Angel Girl is her first children’s picture book in the United States. She hopes the illustrations will help bring this inspiring story into readers’ hearts. Ms. Amit lives in Sede Warburg, Israel.” (from the dust jacket) She is one of Israel’s premiere illustrators and has won many awards. Her work is very modern and abstract which I don’t normally enjoy.  Her drawings of people’s faces are always with long noses and wide-set eyes. In the case of this book’s illustrations, these sad faces work perfectly with the text. She conveys the fear, struggles, and hopelessness of the concentration camp without being too vivid.

Over the years, many moms of elementary children have asked for books about the Holocaust that would be appropriate for their families. Often it’s difficult to find books that tell the story without being too harsh for younger, more sensitive children. I think there are two sides to this issue of exposure to such horrors. Those who died and those who survived should never be forgotten. The depravity of man can sink to a very low point which usually doesn’t help a child to know. And yet, these stories of survival, courage, and the strength of humankind in the worst of difficulties should be told. And stories like this the one in this book show the providence of God even in the hardest of circumstances. This book should definitely be pre-read by a parent before sharing it with your children. Then be ready to discuss the mature content in light of historic events. I think if my own children were young, I would wait until age 10 and older, even though this is a picture book. And we would read it along with our studies of world history and those tragic events.

Many years ago, I made a journey to Israel to study at the Jerusalem Institute of Holy Land Studies. Our group took a day to visit the Yad Vashem, a museum in honor of those Jews killed in the Holocaust as well as a memorial of the Gentiles who came to the aid of many Jews. Being there was a humbling experience, even for me as a young adult. How pampered we are with our “first-world problems.” I admired the courage of Gentiles who helped to hide Jews at the risk of their own lives. At the Yad Vashem, I saw children visiting with their families despite the utter terror of the large photos and videos. The Jews want their families to remember, to know. Perhaps we are a little too removed here in America, both geographically and historically, from this kind of persecution. I don’t know….it will be up to you as parents to know and to tell in your own time what happened there so long ago.

Other books have been written for children and young people on the Holocaust and World War II that show the awful, fearful side, but also tell of courage, survival, the struggles to rebuild, the sacrifices made for others. These books, I believe, help to balance the dark side of this historic event with light. I don’t think it hurts to think through how I would act in the same situations, and to help our children ponder that as well. Would I follow the example of those who faced the evil and countered it with good?

Another picture book along this theme that I have included in my library is Elisabeth by Claire A. Nivola. This book tells the story of a young Jewish girl who loved her doll very much but had to made the difficult decision to leave her behind when her family is forced to flee Germany during World War II. Eventually, that doll finds its way back to her. I highly recommend this title; it is less graphic about the Holocaust than Angel Girl  and still helps you see the providence of God in an amazing way.

Another picture book that I recommend is Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot by Margot Theis Raven, although it takes place just after World War II. When Stalin blocked all ground routes coming in and out of Berlin, Americans and Britains helped to fly in supplies. This is the true story of a seven-year-old girl and one of the pilots who brought hope to the children.

The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark, written by Carmen Agra Deedy, and illustrated by Henri Sorensen, retells the story in picture book form of King Christian and the Danish resistance to the Nazis in World War II. This story is a legend, and there is no proof this story is true, but it “has been passed down through the years as fact. It's a story about the kind of leader you always want to serve, who is thoughtful, intelligent, and loves his people. This is a great short story to use in the study of WWII.” (Amazon review)

Irena Sendler and the Children of the Warsaw Ghetto by Susan Goldman Rubin and illustrated by Bill Farnsworth. “Irena Sendler, a Polish social worker, helped nearly four hundred Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto and into hiding during World War II.” (amazon review)

One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of World War II. When author/illustrator Lita Judge found hundreds of tracings of feet in her grandmother’s attic, she was intrigued and moved to share the story behind them. Judge bases this quiet, moving story of kindness and healing on her own family's history. After World War II, her grandparents organized a relief effort from their Midwest farm and sent care packages to more than 3,000 desperate people in Europe. In each spread, a young girl describes how she helps Mama with the packages. The stirring art in Judge's first picture book includes not only beautiful, full-page watercolor paintings of a family making a difference but also dramatic collages of black-and-white photos, newspaper cuttings, letters that Judge found in her grandparents' attic, and the foot tracings sent by Europeans desperate for shoes. There is no talk of the enemy. Judge focuses on the dramatic, realistic details of those in need ("We have only one pair of boots and must take turns") and the strength of those who fought "a battle to keep families alive" after the military battles were over. (amazon review)

The next step up from a picture book that I would recommend is the short chapter book The Little Riders by Margaretha Shemin, illustrated by Peter Spier. "Take care of the little riders," says Johanna's father to the eleven-year-old when he leaves her with his parents for an extended vacation in their Dutch village. And Johanna does. She loves the twelve metal figures on horseback who ride forth each hour from the clock on the ancient church tower. She would do anything to protect them, anything. And on night she risks her life to prove it. Set during the Second World War when the German army occupied Holland, The Little Riders is an exciting, moving adventure story, just right for reading aloud. (Amazon review)

If you do find Angel Girl and read it, please let me know your thoughts.

(all rights reserved. Sandy Hall 4/7/2018. Please ask permission to publish this elsewhere. Thank you.)

In the Days of William the Conqueror by Eva March Tappan

In the Days of William the Conqueror by Eva March Tappan

First published by Lee and Shepard in 1901, now reprinted by many including Yesterday’s Classics in 2006. That edition has 236 pages. Upper elementary and up reading level.

Eva March Tappan, 1854-1930, was born in Massachusetts, the only child of Reverend and Mrs. Everett March Tappan. She graduated from Vassar College and then taught at Wheaton College. Later she was assistant principal at an academy in Camden, New Jersey.  She earned her degree in English literature from the University of Pennsylvania. Later she was the head of the English department at the English High School in Worcester, Massachusetts. She was involved in education for more than two decades before she began writing.

Some of the other titles of her books include:

In the Days of Alfred the Great

In the Days of Queen Elizabeth

In the Days of Queen Victoria

England’s Story

Robin Hood: His Book

American Hero Stories

The Chaucer Story Book

The Story of the Greek People

Old World Hero Stories

When Knights Were Bold

An Elementary History of Our Country

Heroes of the Middle Ages

Heroes of Progress: Stories of Successful Americans

From the back of the book:

“With her extensive classroom experience she was able to create stories that appealed strongly to children. She had ‘a talent for making stories real, for filling the imagination with fascinating facts, for bringing out the romance of history, the wholesome excitement of heroism and adventure, and the beauty and wonder of poetry, myth, and legend.’ She authored over 50 titles, including biographies, history textbooks, fairy tales, and hero stories. Her greatest works were The Children’s Hour, an anthology for children in 15 volumes, and The World’s Story, an anthology for older students in 14 volumes.”

Tappan’s preface to this book:

“The story of William the Conqueror is the story of the man who for more than a quarter of a century was the most prominent personage of western Europe. Into whose hands shall England fall, was one of the two or three great questions of the time, and it was William who solved the problem. Whether or not his claim to the English throne was just, the people and their new sovereign seemed made for each other. The English could follow, William could lead. The English could endure; William could strike the blow that made endurance needless. The English were inclined to be grave and serious; William enjoyed a jest. The English were a little slow in their thinking; William was quick-witted. The English would yield to fate; William was fate itself. William’s reign was a period of transition, and in such a time both faults and virtues stand out in bold relief. Whatever in the character of the Conqueror the twentieth century may find worthy of blame or of praise, no student of his life will deny that his faults were those of his time, that his virtues were his own.”

I was very curious to read this book because William’s household steward, Robert Despenser, was a distant ancestor of my family on my father’s side.  Despencer was a Norman landowner who was given status in William’s conquered England. From his line came the famous Spencer family through the centuries. Despencer is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.

William was born in Normandy around 1028 and became Duke of Normandy from 1035 on.  Keeping his control over Normandy was difficult and involved many skirmishes with other men trying to challenge his authority for their own means. In the 1050s and 1060s, William became a contender for the throne of England because King Edward was childless. William claimed that Edward had promised him the throne, a first cousin once removed. Others also claimed the right to the throne. Thus began a long process of obtaining his right to the throne and keeping it. He “invaded” England in 1066 and won the Battle of Hastings. He was crowned king then on Christmas Day in 1066. William’s rule was characterized by the building of many castles and keeps including the keep of the Tower of London, the White Tower. He replaced many of the Saxon knights and rulers with those loyal from Normandy. He also seized and depopulated a large track of land in southern England turning it into the New Forest to support his great love of hunting. Interestingly, the book Children of the New Forest which I previously reviewed took place in this forest during the English Civil War of the mid-1600s. In 1085, William ordered a survey of the landholdings of himself and his vassals. This compilation included the holdings of each landowner, who owned the land before the Conquest, its value, what the taxes were, and the number of all of its resources including peasants and tools.  William died in 1087 following a battle in France against the French King Philip I, who was allied with William’s son Robert.

Being of English background, I had always had a negative impression of William the Conqueror. After all, he invaded England and defeated his foes there and took over the land, making great changes in the culture. I always saw him as a ruthless man. This book gave me a different perspective of a man who set out to claim what he felt was his given rights to rule England. He was brave and courageous even as a young boy when he became Duke of Normandy. He often displayed great mercy in his dealings with his enemies, even against the advice of his elders. William was fiercely protective of his mother and of his wife. He fathered 9 children some of whom were disloyal to him.  Born in a historic period of great political unrest, he lived a life of conflict and battles which he faced with courage and determination.

This book, In the Days of William the Conqueror, written by Eva March Tappan, is a valuable read for young people to learn about this time in history. Although I found it quite interesting because of my fascination with this time period, it is not a good read-aloud, in my opinion. It tends to be a little dry. Still it is informative and well-written, and has a place in my library for knowledge of this time period which has so much influence historically.

Recommended additional books/resources to aid your studies:

Domesday Book, Jackdaw No. 39

1066, Jackdaw No. 38

If you have never seen these Jackdaw collections, you might not realize what a wonderful resource they are of primary sources to aid your studies. They are pamphlets published over the years in England on many historical events and people, many about English history but some also on American and Canada. The packet contains a short document of the history of the event or person, and a list of the document facsimiles included in the packet. I highly recommend them – a little hard to find – but well worth the effort.

Oh my! Such excellent authors have written wonderful books of this era for young people! A rich feast!!

Heroes of History by Winston Churchill

William the Conqueror by Thomas Costain, a Landmark book

William the Conqueror by L. DuGarde Peach, a Ladybird book

Famous Men of the Middle Ages by Rob Shearer

Seven Kings of England by Geoffrey Trease

Tower of London by Leonard Everett Fisher

The Bayeux Tapestry: The Story of the Norman Conquest 1066 by Norman Denny

The Norman Conquest by C. Walter Hodges

Hastings by Philip Sauvain

Growing Up with the Norman Conquest by Alfred Duggan

Cunning of the Dove by Alfred Duggan

Wulf the Saxon by G.A. Henty

Twelve Bright Trumpets by Margaret Leighton

The Twelve Ships by Eloise McGraw

Knight’s Fee by Rosemary Sutcliff

Shield Ring by Rosemary Sutcliff

Little Duke by Charlotte Yonge

Man with a Sword by Henry Trease

The Middle Ages by Sue Lyon

Rory the Red by Evelyn Begley

To Kill a King by Madeleine Polland

Invaders and Invasions by Ronald Syme

The History of the English Speaking Peoples by Winston Churchill, volume 1

Saxon Britain by Tony Triggs

Earliest English by Rosemary Cramp

Kings, Bishops, Knights and Pawns by Ralph Arnold

They Lived Like This in Ancient Britain by Marie Neurath

Fourteenth of October by Bryher – I have not read this one

This is London by M. Sasek

The Inside-Outside Book of London by Roxie Munro

The Story of Britain by R.J. Unstead

Heart’s Conquest by Gladys Malvern – I have not read this one

Faraway Princess by Jane Oliver

(Book review by Sandy Hall. All rights reserved. August 14, 2017)

The Silver Dagger by Allan Dwight

The Silver Dagger by Allan Dwight

First published by Macmillan 1959. My copy is by Acorn Books, paperback, 1963.

Upper elementary/jr high reading level. Historical Fiction.

About the Author:

From the dust jacket – “’Allan Dwight’ is a pen name for the husband-and-wife team of Turney Allan Taylor and Lois Cole Taylor, who have written many exciting adventure stories for young people. Their previous books include Drums in the Forest, The Silver Dagger, Guns at Quebec, and Soldier and Patriot: The Life of General Israel Putnam. Turney Allan Taylor, who recently wrote Morgan’s Long Rifles under his own name, was for twenty years a special writer on the staff of the Sunday edition of the New York Times. Lois Cole Taylor is at present senior editor with Walker & Company, and for many years was an editor with The Macmillan Company and senior editor with William Morrow & Co., Inc. The Taylors are long-time residents of New Jersey.”

I just recently read To the Walls of Cartagena, also by this husband-wife team. Excellent historical fiction.  And I have Guns at Quebec and Morgan’s Long Rifles, found at a used bookstore this summer, that I haven’t read yet but plan to soon.  If you enjoy historical fiction, or your sons do, I recommend this author.

The Story:

From the book cover – “Young Mark Woodbridge opened the door of his Connecticut farmhouse one wet spring evening in 1762 to a cloaked and sinister stranger who called himself Galvez – and thus began the adventure that was to change the whole course of his life. The appearance of Galvez triggered the discovery that Mark had inherited a hoard of treasure, buried somewhere in Cuba. To get there, Mark enlists with the Colonials, and together with his friend Simon he sails to that faraway island – right into the middle of dangerous intrigue. During the long siege of Morro Castle, and with the agents of the evil Galvez on his trail, Mark seeks for the hidden chest of jewels. Trapped and imprisoned, he escapes to find the treasure at last, and in finding it discovers something even more important.”

This story line is fast-moving, full of adventure and danger, and ends in a satisfying way. Mark matures as the story goes along, so that he begins to think before he acts, learns to value true friendships, and sees beyond riches to do what is right. The characters of the story are well-defined, both protagonist and antagonist. One can almost feel the oppressive heat of Cuba and sympathize with the desire for the New England home. Similar to the main character of the Henty novels, Mark gets into one scrape after another, yet always comes out on top. Still, if you have a son of upper elementary or junior high age, this adventure story may appeal to him.  The writing is similar in length, level and style to William O. Steele, Leonard Wibberley, and Stephen Meader, all great writers for boys.

Recommended additional books/resources to aid your studies:

Connecticut by Bernadine Bailey

Pirate Chase by Earl Schenck Miers

The Black Buccaneer by Stephen Meader

Unwilling Pirate by West Lathrop

Pirate – DK Eyewitness book

Indians of the Longhouse, the Story of the Iroquois by Sonia Bleeker

Cuba by Clifford Crouch

Cuba by Karen Jacobsen, A New True Book

Soldier and Patriot: Israel Putnam by Allan Dwight – he is briefly mentioned in the story

Israel Putnam: Fearless Boy by Augusta Stevenson, Childhood of Famous Americans

Today in Old New York City by Elva Jean Hall

New York by Susan & John Lee

A Day in the Life of a Colonial Soldier by J.L. Branse

Boys and Girls of Colonial Days by Carolyn Bailey

If You Lived in Colonial Times by Ann McGovern

Everyday Life in Colonial America by Louis Wright

Colonial Living by Edwin Tunis

Colonial American Troops, 1610-1774 by Rene Chartrand, Men-at-Arms series

Wooden Ship-Building by Charles Desmond

Once Upon a Time: The Way America Was by Eric Sloane

Other historical fiction of this time period:

The Young Voyageur by Kirk Gringhius

Time of the Tomahawk by Robert Edmond Alter

The Great Pine’s Son, A Story of the Pontiac War by Margaret Widdemer

A Spy in Old Detroit by Anne Emery

River of Danger, a Story of Samuel Kirkland by Denice Williamson, a missionary story in upstate NY

(Book review by Sandy Hall. All rights reserved. July 30, 2017) 

The Frightened Hero by Jean Lee Latham

The Frightened Hero by Jane Lee Latham. Illustrated by Barbara Latham.

Published by Chilton Books, c. 1965, 97 pages. Middle elementary reading level.

About the Author – Jean Lee Latham (1902-1995)

From the dust jacket:

 “Jean Lee Latham was born in Buckhannon, West Virginia, and was graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College. She later took a degree in drama at Ithaca College, received her M.S. from Cornell University, and an Litt. D. from West Virginia Wesleyan College. She was editor-in-chief of a play-publishing company and wrote stage and radio plays at night and over week-ends. During World War II she was Civilian in Charge of Training Signal Corps Inspectors, wrote the course for the advanced training of women inspectors, and received the War Department Silver Wreath for her work. Since 1952 she has been writing books, many with historical backgrounds. In 1956 she won the Newbery Medal for Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. Some of her other books are The Story of Eli Whitney; On Stage, Mr. Jefferson!; Drake: The Man They Called a Pirate; Young Man in a Hurry and Retreat to Glory: The Story of Sam Houston.”

Most of her children’s books are biographical or historical fiction. Here are some titles I own:

The Story of Eli Whitney
Medals for Morse: Artist and Inventor
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
Trail Blazer of the Seas
This Dear-Bought Land
Young Man in a Hurry: The Story of Cyrus W. Field
On Stage, Mr. Jefferson
Drake, The Man They Called a Pirate
Samuel F. B. Morse: Artist-Inventor

Man of the Monitor: The Story of John Ericsson
Eli Whitney: Great Inventor
Sam Houston: Hero of Texas
Retreat to Glory: The Story of Sam Houston
George W. Goethals: Panama Canal Engineer
The Frightened Hero: A Story of the Seige of Latham House
David Glasgow Farragut: Our First Admiral
Anchor's Aweigh: The Story of David Glasgow Farragut
Far Voyager: The Story of James Cook
Rachel Carson: Who Loved the Sea
Elizabeth Blackwell: Pioneer Woman Doctor

She also wrote these two nonfiction:

The Columbia: Powerhouse of North America (Rivers of the World Series pub. by Garrard)

The Chagres: Power of the Panama Canal (Rivers of the World series pub. by Garrard)

Barbara Latham, the illustrator of The Frightened Hero, was born in 1896 and died in 1989. She was raised in a farmhouse in Connecticut. Her family were naturalists and her father gave her an apiary of her own. He is the one who developed honey butter, a whipped honey. Have you had it? It’s delicious! Especially on toast or scones. Her family spent summers on Cape Cod. She received art training at Norwich Free Academy, the Pratt Institute, and the Art Students League of New York and others. Collections of her work is held in many prestigious art museums in the country. Barbara spent many weeks in England, going through papers of the period and tracing the ancient foundations of Latham House to insure authenticity.

The Frightened Hero is a historical fiction story of a boy in England in 1642. This would be a nice read-aloud for elementary children when studying this time period.

From the dust jacket:

“This is the story of the siege of Latham House, one of the great castles of England, during the time of the Roundheads and the Cavaliers. Billy, the second son of Lord and Lady Derby, was left at home in Latham House as the man of the house when Lord Derby and his eldest son rode off to fight the Roundheads. When Latham House is surrounded by the forces of Lord Fairfax and an ultimatum is delivered to Lady Derby that she must surrender Latham House, along with all its soldiers, arms and ammunition, she vows she will not capitulate. Billy, although frightened, hopes he can help defend his ancestral home against the Cromwellian troops. His friend, Rolfe, a dedicated liege of Lady Derby, is suspected by the other soldiers of the castle as being a traitor, but Billy has faith in his friend and stands by him. When Rolfe is wounded it is Billy who saves his life. Billy, who confesses he was scared during the siege and the battle, finds that it is not impossible to be frightened and be a hero at the same time as Prince Rupert tells him when Latham House is saved.”

Researching online, I find that they really was a Latham House which was twice besieged during the English Civil War. This book tells of one of those sieges. The history of this castle traces back to before 1066! The west wing of the castle still stands today.

Recently I reviewed Children of the New Forest by Marryat. That story also takes place during the English Civil War. This book, The Frightened Hero, would be a good one for your younger students to read. The plot is much more simplistic, and the character is younger. The story is told from the perspective of a young boy, Billy, who learns an important lesson that courage doesn’t mean you are not scared, but that even the bravest hero, while frightened, does the right thing.  

I just recently purchased another book of historical fiction of this time period and will also do a review of it. A Messenger for Parliament by Erik Christian Haugaard, this author quickly becoming one of my favorites.

Recommended additional books/resources to aid your studies:

Since this book is about the same time period as Children of the New Forest, I will repeat those suggested books here. And add a few others.

Cromwell’s Boy by Erik Christian Haugaard

A Messenger for Parliament by Erik Christian Haugaard

Friends though Divided: A Tale of the Civil War by G.A. Henty

Two Jackdaw collections: The English Civil War 1642-1649 (#33) and Cromwell’s Commonwealth and Protectorate (#27)

              If you have never seen these Jackdaw collections, you might not realize what a wonderful resource they are of primary sources to aid your studies. They are pamphlets published over the years in England on many historical events and people, many about English history but some also on American and Canada. The packet contains a short document of the history of the event or person, and a list of the document facsimiles included in the packet. I highly recommend them – a little hard to find – but well worth the effort.

Kate Rider by Hester Burton

Death to the King: The Story of the English Civil War by Clifford Alderman

Puritan Revolution by C. Walter Hodges

Escape of Charles II After the Battle of Worcester by Richard Ollard

For the King by Ronald Welch

With the King at Oxford by Alfred J. Church

Island Story: A History of England for Boys and Girls by H.E. Marshall

The Flight and Adventures of Charles II by Charles Norman, a World Landmark book

I think I have a few more on my shelves but am not home at the moment to double check. I’ll try to add to this later. I know have some on the history of England for children to add to this list. Most of the above titles are for older students.

Also during your studies of this time period of the 1640s, you could add these topics: Scottish Covenanters – The Crown and Covenant series by Douglas Bond

 John Bunyan and Pilgrim’s Progress,

Princess Ann,

the Treaty of Paris,

and other people such as Blaise Pascal, Galileo, and John Locke.
In America at this time period, Of Plymouth Plantation was being written by William Bradford.

And since the book takes place in Latham House, a castle, I would add:

Castle by David Macaulay

Castle Book by Alfred Duggan

Cross-Sections: Castle by Richard Platt

Let’s Look at Castles by Allan Warwick

Long Ago in a Castle by Marie Farre

(Book review by Sandy Hall. All rights reserved. July 23, 2017)

Hand of the King - Book Review

Book review:
Hand of the King by Barbara E. Morgan, illustrated by Howard Simon

Published 1963 by Random House. 176 pages. Upper elementary through jr high level reading.

The author, Barbara E. Morgan, was a teacher and also served with the British Army in WW II. Her college degree from University of Manchester was in the history and archaeology of Southwestern Asia, Mari specifically. I can’t find any more info on her except this that was included on the dust jacket.

Here is the summary of the book from the dust jacket:

“Twelve-year-old Zak is tending his father’s sheep when two young men, badly wounded, come on the scene. Having escaped from the court of the hated Assyrian king, they hope to deliver a message to the prince of Mari, who is in hiding. If delivered in time, the message could touch off the long-planned revolt against the tyrant’s rule. Enlisting the aid of his friend La’um, Zak becomes deeply involved in the plot to restore the prince of Mari to his throne. Here are adventures and suspense in an authentic setting. For the Assyrian tyrant and the prince of Mari actually lived – 3700 years ago. Through the discoveries of archaeology, much is known about their palaces, their daily life, and even their correspondence. In Hand of the King, Barbara e. Morgan, a trained historian as well as a skilled storyteller, has re-created a thrilling episode from the ancient world.”

And here is the author’s note at the beginning of the book:

“The action of this story takes place in about the year 1750 B.C., roughly the time of Abraham. The story’s background, the site of the town of Mari, on the Middle Euphrates, was located in the 1930s and has been excavated by the French over a period of years. An enormous number of inscribed tablets was found in the palace, including the royal letter that has a place in the plot. All the royal characters mentioned existed. The short period of Assyrian rule in Mari apparently came to an abrupt end, but how Zimrilim, a prince of Mari, regained the throne or where he was during the previous twenty years is not known. This is the mystery which provided the idea for the main theme of the story. Zimrilim proved to be the last king of Mari. After a reign of between twenty and thirty years, the town was completely destroyed by the Babylonians under their great king, Hammurabi. Hence perhaps the richness of the excavated finds dating from the town’s last years. As far as possible, all the details of daily life given in the story are accurate. Little has been mentioned for which there is not direct evidence from Mari itself or which may not reasonably be inferred or vouched for by evidence from kindred sites.”

Mari is in ancient Mesopotamia, between Aleppo and Babylon on the Euphrates River, and the story takes place in the 18th century B.C. I seldom find children’s literature about this time period or about the Fertile Crescent so this one grabbed my interest.

You can read more about the king Zimrilim here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimri-Lim

And about the town of Mari in what is now Syria here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari,_Syria.

Excavations were made in the area beginning in the 1930s. Mari was known as the far-western outpost of the Sumerian civilization. Many of the archaeological finds are housed in the Louvre in France, in Aleppo and in Damascus. Excavations continued even to as recent as 10 years ago. Now, however, the area of Mari is occupied by armed gangs following the Syrian Civil War and much of the area has been looted.

The book does describe the character’s belief in the gods and mentions Ishtar, the goddess of love, beauty, sex, desire, fertility, war, combat, and political power. Ishtar is mentioned in the Scriptures and also plays a role in the Gilgamesh epic. In this book by Morgan, none of Ishtar’s immoral behavior is mentioned. The main character prays to her for protection as he tries to outwit the forces of evil he is battling in the story line.

I highly recommend this book for your studies of ancient world history. The plot moves quickly from event to event, with just enough suspense and surprise twists to keep a young person reading and enjoying. The book tells enough details of daily life to help the reader learn about that era.

Other books to read for follow-up studies:

They Lived Like This in Ancient Mesopotamia by Marie Neurath

Mesopotamia, Calliope magazine from 2000

The Gilgamesh Trilogy by Ludmilla Zeman

Ishtar and Tammuz, A Babylonian Myth of the Seasons by Christopher Moore

The Tigris & Euphrates Rivers by Melissa Whitcraft

Buildings of Ancient Mesopotamia by Helen and Richard Leacroft, Ancient Architecture Series

The Sumerians: Inventors and Builders by Elizabeth Landing, Early Culture Series (this civilization was to the south of Mari but same time period)

Song of Abraham by Ellen Gunderson Traylor (same time period as this book)

Review and book list compiled by Sandy Hall. All rights reserved.

Old Number Four - book review

Old Number Four by George I. Putnam

Illustrated by R. Alden Burt. Published by Equity Publishing Corporation, Orford, NH, c. 1965.  164 pages. Upper elementary/junior high reading level. Historical fiction.

In my now-favorite book story in Niantic, CT, I came across this book. It was signed by the wife of the author and was priced a little higher than I usually go, but I had never seen the title and since historical fiction is my very favorite genre, I decided to get it. So glad I did.

The author, George I. Putnam, “was born on the 24^th day of April 1860 in the town of Napanoch, New York. After spending his early years in Charlestown, New Hampshire, he embarked upon a colorful and adventurous life. He graduated from West Point with the Class of 1885 but resigned from military service in 1889. He wrote two books, “In Blue Uniform” and “On the Offensive”, before taking a job as reporter for the Denver Times, and later, the New York Times.  For eleven years, 1895-1906, he owned, edited and published the weekly, Claremont Advocate. After selling this enterprise in 1906 he married Miss Isabella Grieve O’Neil of Claremont and moved to Charlestown where they resided until 1923. During World War I he formed and trained a company of State Guards and after the war was over, became editor of the Claremont Daily Eagle for several years. The remainder of his seventy seven years was spent in San Diego, California.” (author information from the dust jacket). Don’t confuse him with George P. Putnam, the widower of Amelia Earhart, a generation later. Perhaps they were related though??

“The outstanding illustrations for this book were done with imagination, skill and great ability by R. Alden Burt, a northern New England artist, known for his fine pen and ink technique.” (artist information from the dust jacket).

Amazon’s review of the plot:

“A bulwark on the frontier of American civilization during the French and Indian War-more than just a fortress to the pioneers of its day-home to many-loved by all-attacked by her enemies-defended by her stalwart inhabitants-the memory of Old Number Four is not among the missing when history calls its roll. Proud, and justly so, she stood to the fore in America's early march toward destiny. In the early 1700's life on the frontier was not easy. King George's War, 1744-1748, and the French and Indian War, 1754-1763, both left indelible marks on the pioneers of that period. Too, it is impossible to erase the enviable record of an old wooden fort located on the eastern shore of the Connecticut River where Charlestown, New Hampshire, now stands. Old Number Four was one of the last strongholds against a savage wilderness inhabited by shadowy Indians and ruthless French. Numerous pen and ink illustrations excite the imagination and provide a delightful sense of sharing in an era of inland conflict, exploration and settlement.”

If reading this book with your family, I encourage you to get your maps out to help understand the significance of this distant outpost of the northern New England frontier of the times. Also, help your readers understand the bigger picture of what was going on in Europe, especially between England and France, and of the War of the Austrian Succession, and how these events eventually influenced the American frontier of the Connecticut River valley.  The author also documents at the bottom of some of the pages his sources for the historical information presented, including some primary source records of letters and town records. These would be fun to find and take a look at as well.

The main characters with whom young people will identify are James and Little Susannah. These two young people come to Old Number Four under very different circumstances. They meet and eventually fall in love and marry following the book’s end. Their relationship over the two years of the book’s plot is pure and sweet, and fired by their growing understanding of the courage and character of each other.

I was impressed with the characterization that Putnam presents. He has a wonderful way of describing and developing the characteristics of each major person in the plot. From the foolish traitorous Jasper Dyke, to the loyal dog Traynor, to the two men in charge of the fort Captain Stevens and Colonel Stoddard, the author paints a distinct picture in the reader’s mind of these and their strengths and weaknesses. Here is a quote of his description of Captain Stevens, “…rose with the dignity of the born commander and assumed control. He was a four-square man; a yes-and-no man; post-true; short, compact, very ruddy, with a keen blue eye as clear as ice. He said little, running to deeds rather than words; yet he could speak, and speak well, when occasion called. His was the spirit of calm dominance. The respectful attention and obedience of men was his birthright. Few would run counter to him by thought, word or deed.” Many of the characters Putnam presents are real-life people of the age and events. That, along with his thorough knowledge of the times, make the book’s story believable.

I highly recommend this book for your American history studies of this time period: 1744-1763. If you do read it, please let me know what you think and if your family enjoyed it.

Recommended additional books to aid your studies:

The Young Gun-Bearer by Browne. King George’s War and the Siege of Louisburg.

Colonial Living by Edwin Tunis

Colonial Craftsmen by Edwin Tunis

Mill by David Macaulay. Since the newly-built mill at Old Number Four plays an important part in the story. This book seems to cover the 1800s more but still it might be helpful for younger readers to see what a mill actually looks like and how helpful and important it was to frontier families.

Courage to Command: A Story of the Capture of Louisbourg by MacDonald. Winston Adventure series.

Fantastic Breeds: Americans in King George’s War by Phillips.

Northern Lights by Rawlyk. I have not read this but it comes recommended by someone I highly respect.

The Story of the French and Indian War by Reeder

Master of the Peaks by Altsheler

Rogers’ Rangers and the French and Indian War by Bradford Smith, a Landmark book.

River of the Wolves by Stephen Meader

Master Entrick: An Adventure 1754-1756 by Michael Mott

The French and Indian Wars by Russell, American Heritage Junior Library

The Matchlock Gun by Walter D. Edmonds, Newbery Medal book

The Gold-Laced Coat, a Story of Old Niagara by Helen Fuller Orton

In Enemy Hands, a Story of the French and Indian War by Natalia Belting

Forts in the Wilderness by Edith McCall

New Hampshire by Bernadine Bailey

Massachusetts by Bernadine Bailey

The Colony of New Hampshire by Lengyel. A First Book.

The Colony of Massachusetts by Dickinson. A First Book.

The American Indian Story by May McNeer

Indian Summer by Monjo, An I Can Read book

Pathfinder, Leatherstocking Tale of the French & Indian War by Cooper

Calico Captive by Elizabeth George Speare

and this youtube video about the historic site: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a0V3V0OgtQ

And perhaps do some research about Captain Phineas Stevens and Colonel Sampson Stoddard. Very interesting and influential men of their time. Also the French officer that led the campaign against Old Number Four, Joseph Boucher de Niverville and whose career was the longest of any Canadian officer in the 1700s. http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/boucher_de_niverville_joseph_5E.html

(Book review by Sandy Hall. All rights reserved. July 18, 2017)