Seven Wonders of the World

Gr 4—6—This volume incorporates hands-on projects and activities with facts as it introduces the wonders of both the ancient and modern worlds, such as the Great Pyramid, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and the Colossus of Rhodes (ancient), as well as Petra, the Great Wall of China, and the Taj Mahal (from the modern list). Each chapter discusses the geographic and historical significance of the monument, as well as specifics about its construction such as materials used and dimensions. Textual material is clearly written and will hold readers' interest but the accompanying projects are uneven both in terms of relevance and clarity. For example, in the chapter about the Great Pyramid, the project is a "Royal Ship Puzzle," although King Khufu's Royal Ship is only mentioned in a sidebar. Many of the projects require materials not easily acquired, such as plaster of Paris and craft sand. In addition, some of them fail to include warnings for adult supervision, such as a hanging garden made out of an empty milk jug that does not include any prompting for special care when using sharp scissors to poke holes through the heavy plastic. Overall, an uneven offering about an interesting topic.—Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library