Terra-Cotta Soldiers: Army Of Stone (High Interest Books: Digging Up The Past)

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About Terra-Cotta Soldiers: Army Of Stone

Product Description Describes the archaeological discovery of thousands of life-sized terracotta warrior statues in northern China in 1974, and discusses the emperor who had them created and placed near his tomb. From School Library Journal Grade 5-8–These hi/lo books will appeal to readers with an interest in ancient civilizations. Soldiers discusses ancient Chinese history, including the first emperor and his tomb, which was found to contain 8000 clay soldiers, made to protect him in his afterlife. Beliefs about life after death are explained. The author also discusses Qin Shi Huangdis role in creating the Great Wall. Kaplan describes the only one of the Seven Wonders of the World still existing and explains ancient beliefs about life after death. Reluctant readers will enjoy the gory details of how the deceaseds organs are removed during the mummy-making process. Both books are highly visual, with lots of photographs and illustrations, many in full color. Solid hits for general reading and reports. –Heather Ver Voort, Wilson Middle School, Natick, MA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Booklist Gr. 4-7. Digging Up the Past, a new subseries in the publisher's High Interest Books umbrella series for reluctant readers, includes this title on the 8,000 terra-cotta soldiers guarding the burial ground of third-century B.C.E. emperor Qin Shi Huangdi. Short chapters, with text sharing space with mostly snapshot-size photos and " Artifact" trivia boxes, shed light on how archaeologists ("history's detectives") study the site to learn more about ancient Chinese military strategy and Qin Shi Huangdi's reign. Some readers may find Dean's detailing of the contents of the 20-square-mile gravesite tiresome, but elsewhere the drama of history snaps into focus; he notes that the men who installed booby traps to deter grave robbers were executed "since they alone knew how to avoid the deadly arrows." Jane O'Connor's The Emperor's Silent Army (2002) may provide a more artful introduction to this topic, but reluctant readers at ease with the High Interest series format may want to start with this. A glossary and resources for further research conclude. Other titles cover Pompeii and the great pyramid at Giza. Jennifer Mattson Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved