Customer Reviews

16th Century Mosque Pb (Inside Story)

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David Macaulay's "Mosque" has to be the standard children's book on this subject. So it is interesting to see another book that deals with the same topic, the building of a mosque in 16th Century Instanbul. The real strength of Macaulay's book are his virtuoso drawings that detail the construction on the building. As readers, we learn about Islam tangentially because it is an Islamic place of worship.

Fiona MacDonald's "Sixteenth Century Mosque" is also interested in the construction techniques used in building mosques. But what separates her book from Macaulay's is that she interested in the broader subject of Islam and the role that mosques play in Muslim life. It is this interest in larger topics which makes this book a good read for children. Finally, Mark Bergin the illustrator, is one of the best artists working in children's non-fiction. He is every bit as artistically ambitious as is David Macaulay. This is a fun book and I recommend it for all those studying the period.