Customer Reviews

Parthenon

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Lyn Curlee's Parthenon is an odd mix of beautiful artwork and detailed text. The graphics Curlee creates in Parthenon is a mixture of diagrams of the parthenon and gorgeous paintings that depict what the parthenon could have been like in ancient Greece. On the other hand, Curlee includes detailed text that explains why the parthenon was built, how it was built, and why it was destroyed. However, Curlee uses vocabulary that could be inaccessible for younger children without extensive parental guidance.

I got this for my fourth grader, who is interested in Ancient Greece, and the myths, art, and architecture of the time. "Parthenon" is by Lynn Curlee, who also did another favorite of ours, "Brooklyn Bridge."

His books are informative -- I learned plenty about the Parthenon from reading this book. But kids like the book, too. The information is good, the writing is clear, and the facts are presented in a way that is accessible and exciting.

The illustrations will knock your socks off -- Curlee takes the time to show and explain the proportions and angles that make the Parthenon such a visually beautiful structure, even in ruins.

In response to the previous review, I'd like to point out that it's often difficult to find books for young-ish children that don't use dumbed-down or over-simplified vocabulary. My daughter, 6, is an excellent reader, who both understood and enjoyed the book without my help. I'm grateful when authors remember that many young readers have wide vocabularies.

This was purchased for a our local library. Can't comment on the book itself, as I haven't read it. But shipping was fast and book was in the condition promised.