Ten Kings: And the Worlds They Ruled

Grade 4-8-In this male counterpart to Ten Queens (Dutton, 1998), Meltzer introduces readers to a diverse group of rulers from Hammurabi of Mesopotamia to Peter the Great of Russia. Each chapter includes the individual's name, dates of rule, and a map of the area over which he reigned. Personal stories and statistics are included along with ample information about the civilization and time period. A sampling of rulers from all over the world and throughout history are discussed, even the biblical King David whose reign is not easily verifiable. Lesser-known monarchs such as Mansa Musa of Mali and Atahualpa of the Inca Empire are also illuminated. This attractive, oversized volume contains a wealth of information, including several useful sidebars, and would be especially useful to beginning researchers. Andersen's stylized portraits reflect the regal nature and personality of each individual.
Shauna Yusko, King County Library System, Bellevue, WA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Royal SubjectsMilton Meltzer, author of Ten Queens: Portraits of Women in Power, offers the male monarch counterpart in Ten Kings: And the Worlds They Ruled, illus. by Bethanne Andersen. Focusing on individuals as diverse as Hammurabi of ancient Mesopotamia and France's 17th-century ruler Louis XIV, Meltzer neatly frames each subject's personal story with ample information about the era and civilization. Rendered in oil on gesso, Andersen's stylized portraits hint at the personality of each king.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 5-8. In this handsome companion piece to Ten Queens (1998, Dutton), Meltzer turns his attention to some of history's most famous rulers--Hammurabi, Alexander the Great, Attila the Hun, Louis IX--as well several lesser-known but equally powerful kings, like the Incan Atahualpa. All grasped their worlds and changed them by their presence; as Meltzer explains, this book is about power. The introduction briefly explains how kingship evolved, looks at its often religious functions, and asks readers to think about how each king used and, in many cases, abused power. As he did in his previous book, Meltzer sets each of his subjects against a specific background of time and place, and he expands the information in sidebars worked smoothly into the flow of the text. He also employs an inviting tone that draws readers in--though even the best of these portraits can become dry. Andersen's full-page portraits and other pictures (the gardens of Versailles, a mosque) are robustly rendered and greatly add to the book's appeal. Kids may pick this up first for report information, but they'll surely be tempted to read on. Ilene Cooper
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