If you've ever wanted to wear a crown, invade a neighbor, or marry for land and money, read this entertaining book. Find out how the brainy and brawny royals in history, who inherited power or seized it by force, measure up against each other. From power-hungry kings and queens to kindhearted monarchs, some were brave warriors, some were cruel dictators, and a few even ruled in the best interests of their people. Full-color comic illustrations are splashed throughout the witty, bite-sized chunks of fact-filled text. From School Library Journal: Gr 5-8-Oversimplification, superficial coverage, and caricature-style illustrations limit the informational content and appeal of this set. Each volume covers more than 20 main topics-which receive about five paragraphs of text-as well as additional background chapters and grouped topics with single paragraphs about people or battles, all in less than 60 pages of main text. The diverse group of people, who include women and people from non-Western cultures who lived between ancient times and the space age, are given an overall "Hard as Nails" rating on a "Hardometer" scale of one to 10 that measures characteristics such as cunning, courage, and ruthlessness. There is no apparent organizational structure, which results in abrupt transitions, such as Ponce de Léon following Neil Armstrong, and some odd inclusions (e.g., space explorers are discussed in Travelers). VERDICT These books are unlikely to hold readers' attention and they will be of little value to middle school libraries.α(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. "About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

A companion book to "Day of the Dragon King" presents facts about the real dragon king, the construction of the Great Wall of China, and the traditions associated with Chinese New Year.

Track the facts about warriors, weapons, and battles throughout history in this nonfiction companion to the #1 bestselling Magic Tree House series! When Jack and Annie came back from their adventure in Magic Tree House #31: Warriors in Winter, they had lots of questions. What kinds of weapons did the ancient Greeks use? How did Roman soldiers fight? Why did knights have tournaments? Who was famous for his war elephants? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Jack and Annie track the facts about ancient warriors. Filled with up-to-date information, photographs, illustrations, and fun tidbits from Jack and Annie, the Fact Trackers are the perfect way for kids to find out more about the topics they discover in their favorite Magic Tree House adventures. Did you know that there's a Magic Tree House book for every kid? Magic Tree House: Adventures with Jack and Annie, perfect for readers who are just beginning chapter books Merlin Missions: More challenging adventures for the experienced reader Fact Trackers: Nonfiction companions to your favorite Magic Tree House adventures

Find out the answers to these questions (and many more!) in this gruesome guide to the mummification process. Filled with fascinating detail, you'll uncover secrets of the embalmers, tales of the tomb robbers, and even what happened when pets were mummified! Meet some famous mummified remains from around the world, from Tutankhamun to the "unlucky mummy," and find out what happened when archaeologists unwrapped mummified remains thousands of years after they were buried. Illustrations of sarcophagi, gilded burial masks, and Egyptian friezes will inspire and delight young Egyptologists in the making. With a glorious gold foil cover and quirky color illustrations on every page, children aged 7+ will enjoy learning lots more about mummies!

Think fast with A.J. and Andrea from My Weird School! Did you know that ancient Egyptians treated infections by putting moldy bread on them? Did you know that ancient Roman workers would stomp around barefoot in big tubs filled with urine to clean their clothes? Learn more weird-but-true ancient history facts with A.J. and Andrea from Dan Gutman’s bestselling My Weird School series. This highly illustrated series of nonfiction books features hundreds of hysterical facts, plus lots of photos and illustrations. Whether you’re a kid who wants to learn more about ancient history or simply someone who wants to know what came out of the very first vending machine, this is the book for you! With more than 23 million books sold, the My Weird School series really gets kids reading!

This gripping title traces the causes, symptoms, and treatment of plague through the height of the Black Death in Europe and into the modern day. "About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

The Reformation: A Brief History is a succinct and engaging introduction to the origins and history of the Protestant Reformation.  A rich overview of the Reformation, skillfully blending social, political, religious and theological dimensions A clearly and engagingly written narrative which draws on the latest and best scholarship Includes the history of the Reformation in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, areas that are rarely covered in any detail The Reformation is placed in the context of the entire history of Christianity to draw out its origins, impetus, and legacy