Real Samurai [Hardcover]

Stephen Turnbull (Author), James Field (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2007 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Real

"A comprehensive, highly engaging introduction to the world of the samurai for young readers."—Booklist

The Real series is a collection of four titles that includes Real Pirates, Real Knights, Real Samurai, and Real Ninja. Each title has been described as "excellent" and a real draw for even the reluctant reader.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Miller, author of Roanoke: Solving the Mystery of the Lost Colony (2001), here reprises for a young audience her historical theory that a certain man sabotaged the expedition eventually known as the Lost Colony. She traces the colonists' journey to the New World, their leader's decision to return to England in hopes of obtaining much-needed supplies, and his desperate attempts to return, delayed again and again, until after the colonists' mysterious disappearance. Miller does an exceptional job of presenting the Native American culture and viewpoint, but the book focuses largely on people and politics in England. The book presents as fact her theory about who thwarted the colony's success and why. This handsomely designed book features one or two illustrations on each spread, many in color, including reproductions of period drawings, paintings, and maps, as well as modern photos of sites and wildlife. Although there is no bibliography, the book concludes with a time line and source notes, mainly from period sources, and includes succinct explanations of the terms Ibid. and Op. cit., which young readers may be meeting for the first time. Phelan, Carolyn

About the Author

Stephen Turnbull received an A.B. from Cambridge University and a Ph.D. from Leeds University. He has been awarded the Canon Prize of the British Association for Japanese Studies as well as the Japan Festival Literary Award for his work on the Samurai. He is an Honorary Research Fellow in East Asian Studies at the University of Leeds. James Field was born in England in 1959. After attending college in Wales, he began his professional career in 1982 making models for museums and Welsh TV. An interest in the Samurai led to his first major book, Samurai Warriors, written by Stephen Turnbull.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books (May 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592700608
• ISBN-13: 978-1592700608
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,146,065 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Real Samurai" will prove to be an exceptionally popular addition, July 9, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Real Samurai (Hardcover)

"Real Samurai: Over 20 Stories of Old Japan" by Stephen Turnball is a collection of true stories about the samurai warriors of Japan, a warrior class who dominated Japanese culture and held to high standards of personal honor and loyalty based upon the fundamental concept of Bushido. There are five special sections that focus upon diverse 'samurai facts' ranging from horseback archery, to samurai swords, Japanese armor, Japanese castles, and more. An ideal introduction for young readers to Japanese history and larger-than-life characters of Japanese legend, "Real Samurai" will prove to be an exceptionally popular addition to school and community library collections.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great collections of stories and illustrations, November 13, 2010

By 

matt (the reading room) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Real Samurai (Hardcover)

This is another great Turnbull book and a fantastic find for samurai enthusiasts young and old. It is a children's book, so do not expect the level of scholarship found in Turnbull's other works. That said, it is an interesting collection of almost 30 very short (1 page) stories that do include a great deal of historical information. Each story is accompanied by the historically accurate and vivid illustrations by James Field, who happens to illustrate many of Turnbull's books. The large size of the book makes it great for reading in pairs or just to look at while daydreaming.

There is moderate violence in the stories and images, so parents should consider this when buying.

You may also find Real Ninja: Over 20 True Stories of Japan's Secret Assassins to be lots of fun, also by Turnbull.

If you happen to be looking for more scholarly works on samurai,Turnbull's Warriors of Medieval Japan (General Military) is THE book for you!

Enjoy!

5.0 out of 5 stars Stephen Turnbull's First Book for Children, February 20, 2012

By 

Marco Antonio Abarca (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Real Samurai (Hardcover)

Stephen Turnball is the foremost expert on Samurai and their battles in the English language. He has written scores of books on the subject. In "Real Samurai" Turnbull does all that should expected in a children's book. Turnbull lays out his story with a logical structure and it is written in an age appropriate fashion. A better introduction for young children would be hard to imagine. Highly recommended.