The Secrets of Stonehenge

Gr 3–7—Dating back some 10,000 years, and consisting of a series of henges, barrows, avenues, and standing stones erected over millennia by peoples without a written language, this site holds numerous "secrets" (or mysteries). The simply written, informative text appears on sweeping artwork and serves as captions for the sketches that appear along the margins of each spread. The authors present the historical background, offering a glimpse at the peoples who built a series of structures over the centuries and what rituals or ceremonies might have warranted such monumental efforts. Lavishly illustrated with semi-cartoon watercolors (with individuals making such comments as, "Heave ho!" and "Come on, lads…PADDLE!"), there are also informative sketches, maps, and diagrams clinging to the margins, all of which add to the book's eye appeal. Preceded by a helpful glossary, a time line graces the final endpapers. Less demanding than Marc Aronson's complex If Stones Could Speak: Unlocking the Secrets of Stonehenge (National Geographic, 2010), this slender work will be a revelation for newcomers to the topic and for the curious of mind.—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY