Today's read hit the market about a week ago and heads in the direction of architecture, history, and construction. I thought a little nonfiction is always a good thing, so I decided to take a peek. I'll admit that I'm curious to see what the 'new' seven wonders are. The old is still stuck in my head as the true official one. Of course, I've heard that some new lists have been made during the last years (not that I understand what was wrong with the old ones,. but that's my age and stubbornness talking).
Anyway, I'm just looking forward to seeing some historical-building goodness and am curios how this book handles the theme.
I almost forgot that it's Monday! That means there is tons of middle grade goodness over at the MMGM (Marvelous Middle Grade Monday) over HERE. Knowers and lovers of literature for this age group recommend all sorts of tales to dive into. So, if you're into middle grade literature, you're going to want to head over there and take a peek.
HOW THE NEW SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD WERE BUILT
by Jiri Bartunek and Tom Velkovsky
Illustrated by Jan Sramek
48 pages
ages 8 to 12
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection In the next book in the How the Wonders were Built series, the new seven wonders of the world are introduced from the architectural point of view in this fully illustrated title. The Great Wall of China, Petra, The Colosseum, Chichén Itzá, Machu Picchu, The Taj Mahal, and Christ the Redeemer were selected as the new seven wonders of the world by over 600 million people who participated in a vote between 2000 and 2007. But have you ever wondered how these monumental structures were built centuries ago without using the modern technologies and heavy machinery that is available today? This book will give you the answers you are looking for. These buildings are a cross-section of world architecture, offering a unique opportunity to compare the approaches, but also cultures of the entire world and different historical periods.
Come and travel with us across the world and time and peek behind the curtain of the creation of the architectural monuments that have helped shape the current world.
Come and travel with us across the world and time and peek behind the curtain of the creation of the architectural monuments that have helped shape the current world.
MY TIDBITS
While the construction of seven World Wonders remains at the center of this book, it also works in cultural and history facts to make a rounded glimpse into the topic.
This book centers around the Seven New World Wonders as decided in Switzerland by a popular vote between 2000-2007 and includes The Great Wall of China, Petra, The Colosseum, Chichen Itza, Machu Picchu, The Taj Mahal, and Christ the Redeemer. It begins with a Table of Contents and a very simple world map with the general location of each wonder pointed out and a small illustration of the wonder. Then, the authors explain where this new list came from and it's purpose...which was nice and insightful.
Each wonder is presented big and bold on a two-page spread and more information follows on the next few pages. The construction methods, materials, and specific uses are explored, and where it isn't exactly known, the authors give an educated explanation to what might have been. These are supported with illustrations, which make it easy to understand how the construction was done. But that's not where it ends. The authors weave in information surrounding the people who built it or used it, such as clothing, tools, and such. The history surrounding the construction as well as the importance in the culture at the time also gives glimpses into the life of the people as well as their values.
This was nicely put together and offers all sorts of interesting information. The text is kept pretty concise and delivers the facts in an interesting manner...never too heavy. So, even easily-bored readers will be kept in the pages. There were moments where a little more information would have been useful or interesting (for example: the Colosseum concentrates on the gladiator games...my daughter missed the information about the ability to flood it for ship fights. Also, a couple very basic people sketches being presented as a certain Emperor or general was odd, since they were hardly identifiable). Other presented information was a tiny bit off. But all in all, it's a very interesting, especially for the intended audience and general direction the information takes.
It would make a nice addition to a theme surrounding the Seven World Wonders or for exploring the various moments in history, too.
And here they are...
Jiří Bartůněk studied at a technical school specializing in the building industry and then he went on to graduate in Classical Archaeology from Masaryk University; he gained his doctorate in Ancient History. He has lived in the United Kingdom, Sweden and Iceland. He works as an archaeologist and historian with interests in technical, social, military, eschatological and other, lesser-known aspects of ancient civilizations. His main professional purpose is popularization of history for the general public, which he achieves by his publications, exhibition-related work at museums, and practical demonstrations including fencing shows.
Tom Velčovský is a graduate in Audiovisual Production from the Silesian University in Opava, where he specialized in screenwriting and storyboards. Before switching to children’s books and the making of comic strips, he worked in advertising.
Jan Šrámek is a visual artist, illustrator and teacher. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Brno University of Technology, where he currently heads the Video Studio alongside Martin Mazanec. His work has been presented at galleries and festivals all over the world, notably in London, New York, Amsterdam, Seoul and Beijing. In 2014, he was co-creator of the Czecho-Slovak pavilion at the Venice Biennale of Architecture. He received a Czech Grand Design 2017 award in the Illustrator of the Year category for the artist’s book Special Circumstances and his illustrations for the Paneland exhibition. His illustrations for the book That’s Metro, Man! were selected for a prestigious exhibition at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in 2020.
