Through Time: Beijing [Hardcover]

Richard Platt (Author), Cappon Manuela (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: Through Time

Through Time: Beijing traces the rise and fall of great dynasties and the everyday lives of the citizens who prospered or suffered under their rule. Beginning in prehistoric times, an agricultural community slowly evolves. Farming villages then come under the control of a local lord, and by the medieval period an imperial palace is taking shape. This new capital is then overthrown by invading Mongols, who destroy it and build their own city. Later, the Mongols are replaced by the Ming, who create the legendary Forbidden City and rule China for the next five hundred years. The book's fluent narrative text and beautiful illustrations tell the enthralling story of BeijingÑits triumphs, conflicts, and people--right up to the present day. 

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3–6—Chronologically arranged spreads begin with "A marshy home 16000 B.C.," continue on with such chapters as "Kublai Khan's city A.D. 1290," "The Forbidden City A.D. 1406," and "The Cultural Revolution A.D. 1966," and conclude with "Museum City Today." Paragraphs around a large central picture describe what is going on and are written in the present tense, which can be a bit confusing at first. The pictures of different scenes or details are also captioned. The layout is attractive, and the full-color illustrations invite close inspection. There is no sugarcoating here; soldiers burn houses and kill residents, and intellectuals are put to death during the Cultural Revolution. The narrative seems to be written from the Chinese perspective of each time period, such as referring to the "hated Yuan" or stating that "the Forbidden City has stood for everything that is wrong with the 'old' China." This style requires a bit of sophistication on the part of readers, who may not have the background knowledge to put events into context or assess its historical accuracy. What is misleading about this volume is that after eight entries discussing different locations and conquerors, the concentration is on the Forbidden City. There is nothing about Beijing as a whole or the modern aspects of the metropolis.—Clare A. Dombrowski, Amesbury Public Library, MA
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From Booklist

Starting in prehistory, this visual excursion to the 2008 Olympics’ host city covers its major figures, events, and dynasties through extensively captioned double-page illustrations of Beijing scenes through the ages. Readers will want to pore over the finely detailed images, including many cross sections, for the glimpses they provide of residents’ daily life and social structures. This eye-catching title will reward browsers just as thoroughly as its predecessor in the Through Time series, Pompeii (2007). Maps, time lines, and a glossary support the content. Grades 4-8. --Linda Perkins

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Kingfisher; First Edition edition (June 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753461757
• ISBN-13: 978-0753461754
• Product Dimensions: 12.4 x 9.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #983,666 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Richard Platt has been writing for children since 1992. One of his books, Castle Diary, was shortlisted for the Kate Maschler Award, The Times Education Supplement award, and a History Today prize. His Pirate Diary won the Kate Greenaway Medal 2002, the Silver Smarties Award 2002, and won the 'Best Book With Facts' prize in the Blue Peter Book Awards 2003.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction to the history Beijing, July 23, 2008

By 

Triple A (CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Through Time: Beijing (Hardcover)

This book gives a basic overview of the history of Beijing. Not much specific details are given about the history of China as a whole. There is a timeline on the history of Beijing, which summarizes what the book states. At times, I feel like the author skipped some information, such as the events that occurred between 350 BCE and 1179 AD. During this time, Qin Shi Huang became the first emperor of China. Therefore, I believe the age level for this book is appropriate. Every page is filled with drawings. Although there are no actual photographs, the artwork provides a great visual imagery. On each page, there are dozens of notes describing what is going on in the pictures. Overall, this is a great starter book for someone who wants to learn about the history of Beijing!

3.0 out of 5 stars Lackluster Illustrations Hurt Book, June 22, 2010

By 

Marco Antonio Abarca (Colorado) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Through Time: Beijing (Hardcover)

People have been living in the Beijing area for thousands of years. "Through Time: Beijing" attempts to tell the story of the city by following its progress from a humble iron age village to a modern industrial city. The reader flips a page and sees how the architecture of Beijing has evolved. Many other children's history books have followed this formula. However, great illustrations are needed for this formula to work. Stephen Biesty and David MacAulay are two masters of this genre. Manuela Cappon is a competent history illustrator and she has participated in a number of successful book projects. Unfortunately, most of the illustrations in this book look rushed and not well drawn. Panoramic architectural drawing is one of the most difficult excercises for an illustrator and unfortunately Manuela Cappon was not up to the task in this book.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Through Time: Beijing(Through Time), June 16, 2008

By 

Theo Altes - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Through Time: Beijing (Hardcover)

This is again, I beautiful book. Very educational. I bought it since in China trying to find a book store on a tour is impossible. It really explains in beautiful colors how Beijing and the Forbidden City move through the ages. I loved it. Beautiful pictures and written where all of us 8-80 can understand and appreciate.