Rats, Bulls & Flying Machines: A History of the Renaissance & Reformation (Core Chronicles Ser. 1) [Paperback]

Deborah M. Prum (Author), John Holdren (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1890517186 | ISBN-13: 978-1890517182 | Publication Date: September 1999

Rats, Bulls & Flying Machines: A History of the Renaissance & Reformation (Core Chronicles Ser. 1) (View amazon detail page) ASIN: 1890517186

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Grade 5-10-Beginning with Petrarch's rediscovering the classical age and ending with Galileo's trial, this easy-to-read volume covers a little more than 300 years of history. And though it rushes headlong through these exciting years, it does it in an informative and often entertaining manner. The book is divided into three major sections: "The Renaissance in Italy," "The Renaissance Beyond Italy," and "The Reformation." Each of the 16 brief chapters focuses on a particular figure or aspect of the given period such as "The Medici of Florence," "What about Those Renaissance Women?," and "Galileo: Rebel with a Cause." Packed with illustrations, maps, and reproductions (many in color, all with captions), often three or more to a page, the volume also includes occasional cartoons and helpful blurbs or balloons that pull out important concepts or basic ideas for special attention, e.g., the three giants of Renaissance art-Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael-were not friends but rivals and competitors. The two-page chronology covers the years 1304 to 1642, though, as with the rest of the book, what it misses is sometimes more interesting than what it includes. The most glaring and obvious absences are Bosch and Dante, two of the seminal figures from the time. Nevertheless, this is a lively, accessible volume.
Herman Sutter, Saint Agnes Academy, Houston, TX
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

A lively text that hits the high points of history and pauses for enough detail to make them memorable. -- Booklist, December 15, 1999

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Product Details

• Paperback: 106 pages
• Publisher: Core Knowledge Foundation (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890517186
• ISBN-13: 978-1890517182
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #349,689 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good overview of the Renaissance, May 9, 2002

By 

"dab_68" (Brownsville, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rats, Bulls & Flying Machines: A History of the Renaissance & Reformation (Core Chronicles Ser. 1) (Hardcover)

Written for the 9 to 12 year old, this 100 page book is a lovely overview to the major issues of the Renaissance. The title hints at whats to come -- rats (method of transmission for the Plague), bulls (the Martin Luther kind), and flying machines (Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance man). Making cameo appearances: the Medici, Machiavelli, the Borgias, Castiglione, Brunelleschi, Donatello, Michaelangelo, Raphael, Van Eyck, Shakespeare, Durer, Bruegel, Cervantes, Gutenberg, Henry VIII, St. Ignatius Loyola, and Galileo. Also discussed is the Reformation, although somewhat limited in scope. Beautiful color pictures. The only real complaint that I have is that the book is too brief, but an excellent start for youngsters discovering the Renaissance.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Colorful Overview of the Renaissance, May 3, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Rats, Bulls & Flying Machines: A History of the Renaissance & Reformation (Core Chronicles Ser. 1) (Paperback)

Ms. Prum's clever review of the Renaissance is full of wit, humor, and unlike many children's history books, information. Her book provides a teacher or parent with simple, interesting facts about this exciting period of history. I recommend it for all teachers and parents who want to avoid the dreary world of text book history.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, May 3, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Rats, Bulls & Flying Machines: A History of the Renaissance & Reformation (Core Chronicles Ser. 1) (Paperback)

This book is great, it is full of colorful pictures and stories that make history not only exciting for students, but also teachers.