Biblical Times (If You Were There) (Hardcover)

by Antony Mason (Author), Michael Welpy (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6. In these large, colorfully illustrated books, each double-page spread offers a short paragraph of historical background, surrounded by several full-color, captioned illustrations, sidebars, and other descriptive nuggets. This supplemental information is valid and interesting, describing artifacts, tools, buildings, social customs, and folkways. Unfortunately, the quality of the basic texts do not match that of the additional information. They are simplistic, occasionally misleading, and possibly incorrect. Biblical Times follows a rough chronological order from 800 B.C. to the Rome of the early Christians (A.D. 300). Information seems to have been taken from various versions of the Bible, with little attempt to compare and contrast archaeological discoveries and recorded historical fact with religious doctrine, myths, and legends. Statements such as "the Israelites...passed through...the Sinai Peninsula, where God gave their leader, Moses, the Ten Commandments," or Jesus's "first miracle took place at a marriage feast, when he turned water into fine wine," are not differentiated from historical fact. Jonathan Tubb's Bible Lands (Knopf, 1991) covers the same subject in greater detail and emphasizes archaeological discoveries and recorded history. Medieval Times discusses lords and ladies, village life, food and feasting, etc. The brevity of the text leaves questions unanswered, and Mason does not attempt to relate historical developments to their various causes and effects. Sarah Howarth's What Do We Know about the Middle Ages (1996) and Giovanni Caselli's History of Everyday Things: The Middle Ages (1988; o.p., both Peter Bedrick) cover this period in much greater detail.?Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
Richly detailed illustrations and a fact-filled text provide a fascinating journey to the ancient Middle East to reveal the everyday lives of the people and important events of biblical times, in a history that includes a foldout game that invites readers to join the search for some sacred scrolls.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (November 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689809530
• ISBN-13: 978-0689809538
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 9.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: No customer reviews yet. Be the first.
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,378,150 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)