Turn of the Century [Hardcover]

Ellen Jackson (Author), Jan Davey Ellis (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1998 | Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

It's hard to convey the concept of a millennium to a child. Turn of the Century does this, and more.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-This informative picture book introduces youngsters to history through 11 fictitious children, each living in a different period. Their stories are told on the eve of each century from 1000 to 2000. For each child, a first-person, day-in-the-life account accompanies a brief list of facts about that particular time. For example, readers meet a 10-year-old peasant boy in the year 1000 and discover that during his lifetime books were rare, many children died before their seventh birthday, and England was called Angle-land. The many full- and three-quarter page watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations vividly reflect each child's life and provide additional information about the period depicted. Detailed borders add decorative touches. An excellent list for further reading is included. A fine resource to add to any social studies or history curriculum and a delightful and timely choice as the year 2000 approaches.
Susan Knell, Pittsburgh State University, Pittsburgh,
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 3^-5, younger for reading aloud. With the millennium fast approaching, this is a perfect time for looking back. And that's exactly what this book does, and in a way that children can understand and will respond to. The book is oversize, and each two-page spread has a list of facts and a first-person narrative that introduces a child living in Great Britain at the beginning of each century between A.D. 1000 and 1600 and in America beginning in 1700 and through the year 2000. For instance, the first child we meet is John, a 10-year-old peasant boy living in Nottingwood: "My family works the land six days a week and gives our lord a portion of the crops. Our lord owns furs, jewelry, silver coins, and one book . . . I own only the clothes on my back." The facts include information about the rarity of books and that the New Year begins on March 25. What makes this book so appealing--and gives it such a cohesive feeling, despite the time span covered--is its design. Each spread looks into the home of the child, rather like looking inside a doll house. Eleanor, a nine-year-old in the year 1100, lives in a nunnery, and the pictures depict different rooms in the nunnery. The art shows the nuns and the girl at prayer, doing chores, and in a tower window. Each spread is decorative as well as informative and invitingly bordered with a design of the era. An enlightening preface and author's note explain more about life in other times, calendars, and dating; an extensive bibliography is appended. Teachers and librarians will find lots of uses for this; kids will just like poring over it Ilene Cooper

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing (July 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088106369X
• ISBN-13: 978-0881063691
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #948,904 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

WHO: Ellen B. Jackson

WHAT: An award-winning author of 55+ fiction and nonfiction books for children.

WHEN: Born in the days of woolly mammoths, I eventually grew up to be a teacher, counselor, book-lover and writer.

WHERE: I live in Santa Barbara near a very nice beach, ideal for beach-combing and canine stick throwing.

WORKS: Recent books include THE MYSTERIOUS UNIVERSE, about supernovae and dark energy (a Golden Kite honor book), and EARTH MOTHER, a timeless tale about the circle of life (three starred reviews).

VISIT: www.ellenjackson.net

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautifully illustrated, very informative book., October 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Turn of the Century (Hardcover)

I read this book to my 5th grade students. They enjoyed listening for the differences between life in 1990's and the various centuries. After hearing facts about a century, they were quick to point out how these had been incorporated into the beautiful illustrations. It can be difficult for 10-year-olds to understand how life in the past could be so different. Sometimes they take our modern conveniences for granted, and have difficulty imagining a different way of life. This book provided this information in a very interesting way. I especially enjoyed how, after weaving the distinct features of life at the turn of the century into the character's narrative, the author would then list them on the opposing page. This book was entertaining and informative.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Imaginative, January 28, 2010

By 

amdg (MD, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Turn of the Century (Hardcover)

A beautiful and imaginative book that tracks the life of a child through the centuries. Well illustrated and informative vignettes describe various aspects of everyday life. Bought two copies so I could keep one for myself!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative with Lovely Illustrations, September 19, 2008

By 

Track Eye - See all my reviews

This review is from: Turn of the Century: Eleven Centuries of Children and Change (Paperback)

I read this book with my 8-yr. old daughter and she and I both enjoyed it. I had planned to read only a little, but it was so interesting she kept begging to read "one more century" and I was happy to oblige. The book is well written and informative. The illustrations are beautiful and really bring the text to life.