In the Forbidden City

Gr 3–6—With the scope of David Macaulay's architectural series (Houghton Harcourt) and the whimsy of Martin Handford's "Where's Waldo?" books (Candlewick), this attractive volume introduces readers to the architecture and history of China's imperial compound and its inhabitants. Large line drawings show parts of the Forbidden City, the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty, located in Beijing, in great detail, with several folding out for multiple pages. The buildings and grounds are all heavily populated—interiors often feature people who would have lived there when the emperor did, and exteriors are filled with modern-day tourists. Readers will appreciate (but won't require) a magnifying glass, which is included to help catch all the details. (Can you find the cat in each picture?) Paragraphs of text highlight architectural details and stories about imperial life under different reigns. Cartoon figures and captions help differentiate among different rulers and dynasties within the city. Kwong-chiu has made a potentially complicated and confusing subject accessible and fascinating without oversimplifying it. While the text is aimed at upper elementary students, readers of all ages will spend hours poring over the pages to make sure they catch it all. This is one of the first books from the We All Live in the Forbidden City program to be translated into English, and if this book is any indication, librarians and students will look forward to future titles. An excellent, exquisitely designed volume.—Jennifer Rothschild, Arlington County Public Libraries, VA