Castle Life

Gr 4–6—Large, full-color photographs and illustrations distinguish this series, which gives emerging readers a fascinating glimpse into the medieval world. With each spread devoted to a subject (e.g., "Personal protection," "Castle defenses," and "Banquets and feasts"), the books cover a wide range of topics such as weapons, castle construction, food, religion, and the structure and hierarchy of society. Though the texts are limited, they are well integrated with the appealing illustrations, which include contemporary photos of re-enactors and intact castles and ruins, art reproductions, and cutaways. Many images are also labeled with captions that introduce new words, which will increase vocabulary comprehension. Although these books do not present information that has not already been covered by existing sets, their clear, readable prose and illustration-focused format will attract and hold the attention of browsers and aid report writers. Strong new or replacement choices.