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You are here: Home / Archives for history

Adventures in Time: Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile by Dominic Sandbrook

June 20, 2022 By achuka Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 21 Jun 2022

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Already the fifth book in Dominic Sandbrook’s children’s history series. Adventures in Times is a fantastic series written by a historian with a novelistic flair for high incident. In an Author’s Note at the end of this book, he explains that, because little is known about Cleopatra’s early years, and the rest of historical evidence comes mainly from the Romans who naturally had a negative view of her, “this book is a little different from other Adventures in Time… You may be surprised, though, to learn that the really outlandish stories are based on historical evidence.”

This title joins

  • The First World War
  • The Second World War ACHUKA Book of the Day 26 Jul 2021
  • Alexander the Great
  • The Six Wives of Henry VIII

Cleopatra has always known she was destined to be queen of Egypt. And when she defeats her own brother to win the throne, it is clear that the gods are on her side. Join historian Dominic Sandbrook as we follow the most famous queen of all from Alexandria to Rome, through doomed love affairs and epic battles, to the serpent’s bite which will change the course of history forever…

Filed Under: BookOfTheDay, NonFiction Tagged With: Egypt, Egyptian, history

Viking Boy: the Real Story: Everything you need to know about the Vikings by Tony Bradman ill. Thomas Sperling

January 11, 2022 By achuka Leave a Comment

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Take a real-life tour of the everyday world of Gunnar, a teenage Viking boy: find out how the Vikings lived, what they believed, how they travelled and fought, and gained their legendary reputation as warriors. Gunnar tells us the real story of growing up as a Viking in an exciting first-hand account, introducing us to family and friends, famous warriors, sea-raiders and even a Norse god!
Packed with historical facts, figures and anecdotes, with illustrated information panels on topics from Viking poetry to battle and bloodlust, this is a brilliant new read for Viking fanatics, both at home and in the classroom.

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Filed Under: How About, NonFiction Tagged With: everyday life, history, Vikings

Adventures in Time: The First World War by Dominic Sandbrook

December 12, 2021 By achuka Leave a Comment

Sunday Times Children’s Book of the Week 14 Nov 2021

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Travel back in time to The First World War, as historian Dominic Sandbrook takes us from the soaring heights of an aeroplane cockpit to the desperate depths of the enemy trenches. We are plunged first hand into a conflict like no other as, amid the greatest clash of empires ever known, the future of the world hangs in the balance…

The Adventures in Time series brings the past alive for twenty-first century children. These stories are every bit as exciting as those of Harry Potter or Matilda Wormwood. The only difference is they actually happened…

Companion title to his book on The Second World War.

Filed Under: NonFiction Tagged With: history, war

The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones & Renee Watson ill. Nikkolas Smith

December 10, 2021 By achuka Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 10 Dec 2021
A TIME Magazine Best Children’s Book of the Year 2021

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“Smith’s evocative, vibrant art is full of emotion and motion. Colors and images speak volumes, while characters are portrayed with dignity, even in the worst circumstances.” KIRKUS
“Written in lovely and loving verse, with dynamic, expressive, and expansive illustrations that convey the emotional journey of a resilient people, this book provides a moving, informative answer to an essential question.” Horn Book
“Alternating between realistic and surreal images, Smith works in a saturated palette to create emotionally evocative scenes: dark, mostly monochrome tableaus convey tragedy or violence; brightly lit, multicolor palettes illustrate scenes of peace and joy. While detailing the specifics of an often-obscured history and its effects, this volume powerfully emphasizes that Black history is not merely a story of slavery and suffering but one of perseverance and hope.” Publishers Weekly

 

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This lyrical picture book in verse chronicles the consequences of slavery and the history of Black resistance in the United States, thoughtfully rendered by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and Newbery honor-winning author Renee Watson.

A young student receives a family tree assignment in school, but she can only trace back three generations. Grandma gathers the whole family, and the student learns that 400 years ago, in 1619, their ancestors were stolen and brought to America by white slave traders.
But before that, they had a home, a land, a language. She learns how the people said to be born on the water survived.

And the people planted dreams and hope,
willed themselves to keep
living, living.

And the people learned new words
for love
for friend
for family

for joy
for grow
for home.

With powerful verse and striking illustrations by Nikkolas Smith, Born on the Water provides a pathway for readers of all ages to reflect on the origins of American identity.

A lyrical picture book in verse chronicling the consequences of slavery and the history of Black resistance in the United States, thoughtfully rendered by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and Newbery honor-winning author Renee Watson.

A young student receives a family tree assignment in school, but she can only trace back three generations. Grandma gathers the whole family, and the student learns that 400 years ago, in 1619, their ancestors were stolen and brought to America by white slave traders.
But before that, they had a home, a land, a language. She learns how the people said to be born on the water survived.

With striking illustrations by Nikkolas Smith, the picture book provides a pathway for readers of all ages to reflect on the origins of American identity.

Filed Under: BookOfTheDay, Illustrated Tagged With: America, black, history, slavery

A History of the World in 25 Cities by Tracey Turner & Andrew Donkin ill. Libby VanderPloeg

December 3, 2021 By achuka Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 3 Dec 2021

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This is a highly liftable large-format hardback with a stunning neon cover, featuring 25 beautifully illustrated city maps from all over the world, from ancient history to the present day.

Produced in consultation with specialist curators at the British Museum, readers can visit cities from every inhabited continent on Earth, from the walled city of Jericho built over 10,000 years ago, to the modern-day metropolis of Tokyo, the most-densely populated city in the world today.

Featuring vibrant, beautifully detailed artwork from Libby VanderPloeg, each carefully researched map takes readers on a city tour at a unique moment in time – from exploring Athens in ancient Greece during the birth of democracy, to walking the beautiful lamplit streets of medieval Benin, deep in the West African rainforest. Readers can even visit China’s long-lost capital city of Xianyang – a city for which no original map exists, which was brought to life with support from the British Museum‘s fantastic team of experts.

Each map is followed by two gorgeously illustrated pages of fascinating information about what life was (or is) like for the inhabitants of each city, including a bite-sized look at each city in numbers. Packed with countless facts for curious readers to return to again and again, this is a perfect gift for children who want to explore history from around the world.

Cities featured include Jericho, Memphis, Athens, Xianyang, Rome, Constantinople, Baghdad, Jórvík, Benin City, Tenochtitlán, Granada, Beijing, Venice, Delhi, Cuzco, Amsterdam, Sydney, Paris, London, Bangkok, Saint Petersburg, New York City, Berlin, San Francisco and Tokyo, plus an exploration of Cities of Today and Cities of Tomorrow.

Just take a look inside!

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Filed Under: BookOfTheDay, Gift, NonFiction Tagged With: history

Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jimenez, Daughter of the Nahua by Gloria Amescua ill. Duncan Tonatiuh

November 19, 2021 By achuka Leave a Comment

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“An important window into the ravages of colonialism and the plight of the Indigenous peoples of Mexico.” KIRKUS
“Tonatiuh’s hand-drawn, digitally collaged images mix motifs from Indigenous Mexican art with modern textures, celebrating the endurance and resilience of treasured traditions in a changing world.” Publishers Weekly

This moving, beautifully illustrated biography tells the remarkable story of how model and teacher Luz Jimenez became “the soul of Mexico”-a living link between the indigenous Nahua and the rest of the world. Through her deep pride in her roots and her unshakeable spirit, the world came to recognize the beauty and strength of her people.

Award-winning illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh brings to life debut author Gloria Amescua’s lyrical biography of an indigenous Nahua woman from Mexico who taught and preserved her people’s culture through modeling for famous artists.

She was Luz Jimenez,
child of the flower-song people,
the powerful Aztec,
who called themselves Nahua-
who lost their land but who did not disappear.

As a young Nahua girl in Mexico during the early 1900s, Luz learned how to grind corn in a metate, to twist yarn with her toes, and to weave on a loom. By the fire at night, she listened to stories of her community’s joys, suffering, and survival, and wove them into her heart. But when the Mexican Revolution came to her village, Luz and her family were forced to flee and start a new life. In Mexico City, Luz became a model for painters, sculptors, and photographers such as Diego Rivera, Jean Charlot, and Tina Modotti. These artists were interested in showing the true face of Mexico and not a European version. Through her work, Luz found a way to preserve her people’s culture by sharing her native language, stories, and traditions. Soon, scholars came to learn from her.

The book includes an author’s note, timeline, glossary, and bibliography.

Filed Under: NonFiction Tagged With: biography, history

Great Britons: 50 Amazing People Who Have Called Britain Home – Inspiring Lives by Imogen Russell Williams ill. Sara Mulvanny

November 3, 2021 By achuka Leave a Comment

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“An excellent resource for classrooms, libraries and home collections, a volume to study, dip into and revisit.” BfK 5-Star review

The inspiring stories of 50 key figures in Great Britain’s history, who had an impact on the ways we live, think and feel today.

Throughout the centuries, the history of this small island nation has been shaped by the people who were born in Britain or arrived on its shores. From early Britons to modern pioneers, leaders, writers, athletes and activists, this country has contained a wealth of incredible talent, only made ‘greater’ by our history of immigration, integration and innovation.

This beautiful large-format gift hardback features stunning full-colour artwork throughout. Each page spread is devoted to a tale of an incredible Briton, told by talented writer and children’s book critic Imogen Russell Williams and brought to life by Sara Mulvanny’s vivid illustration. Discover the enthralling and diverse stories of 50 brilliant Britons through the ages, from the warrior queen Boudicca of early Britain, who rose in revolt against the Romans, to activist Malala Yousafzai, who fights for every girl’s right to an education today. The gripping tales include key figures from all areas of British life – science, medicine, entertainment, sports, activism and more.

Featuring the inspirational lives and achievements of amazing people such as Florence Nightingale, Alan Turing, Mary Prince, Stormzy, Charles Darwin and Noor Inayat Khan, Great Britons is not only a celebration of our history as an island, but also as part of a far larger and greater world.

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Filed Under: Gift, NonFiction Tagged With: biography, history

Musical Truth: A Musical History of Modern Black Britain in 28 Songs by Jeffrey Boakye ill. Ngadi Smart

August 2, 2021 By achuka Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 2 Aug 2021

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“This is a clever book, whose ambition is belied by its lucid and approachable text. Boakye sets out to tell the story of modern British black history through twenty-eight records.” BfK 5-star review
“Boakye’s knowledge and passion shines through as he explains the background, emotional impact, and historical significance of songs that changed British culture forever – from London is the Place for Me by Lord Kitchener to Vossi Bop by Stormzy.” BookTrust

Music can carry the stories of history like a message in a bottle. Lord Kitchener, Neneh Cherry, Smiley Culture, Stormzy …

Groundbreaking musicians whose songs have changed the world. But how? This exhilarating playlist tracks some of the key shifts in modern British history, and explores the emotional impact of 28 songs and the artists who performed them. This book redefines British history, the Empire and postcolonialism, and will invite you to think again about the narratives and key moments in history that you have been taught up to now. Thrilling, urgent, entertaining and thought-provoking, this beautifully illustrated companion to modern black music is a revelation and a delight.

Follow the illustrator on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ngadismart/

Filed Under: Blog, BookOfTheDay, Books, NonFiction Tagged With: black, Britain, history, music

Adventures in Time: The Second World War by Dominic Sandbrook ill. Edward Bettison

July 23, 2021 By achuka Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 26 Jul 2021

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“At a time when history is under unrelenting attack, this is my personal crusade to convert Britain’s young readers to the joys of the past, free from political dogma or ideological prejudice. From the start, I was determined to write with children in mind, not adults. There was no question of pandering to the weird obsessions of the present.” Dominic Sandbrook

Prepare to enter the most dramatic conflict the world has ever seen, as historian Dominic Sandbrook takes us on a spine-tingling, heart-stopping adventure. We witness the Second World War first-hand through the eyes of ordinary people living in extraordinary times, from the women who worked all night in factories to the chess players who cracked unbreakable codes. Because in total war, no life is left untouched…

The Adventures in Time series brings the past alive for twenty-first century children. These stories are every bit as exciting as those of Harry Potter or Matilda Wormwood. The only difference is they actually happened…

See also The Six Wives of Henry VIII

Follow the illustrator, Edward Bettison, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edward_bettison/

Two more titles, Alexander the Great and The First World War, will be published in the autumn.

Filed Under: Blog, BookOfTheDay, Books, NonFiction Tagged With: history, war, WWII

Our Beautiful Game by Lou Kuenzler

July 5, 2021 By achuka Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 5 Jul 2021

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They can take our ball, but they can never stop the game.

A timely, important and well-researched ‘middle-grade’ historical novel about the growth in women’s football on the home front during WWI. Publication of the novel marks the centenary of the FA’s shameful banning of women’s football in 1921—a ban that remained in place for 50 years.

Who better to tell you more about the book than the author herself:

A hundred years before the Lionesses, Lily Parr, Alice Woods and their teammates were proudly playing their beloved, exciting and skilful game. As men were sent to fight in the war, women and girls took their place in munitions factories. Football became a favourite pastime and, before long, they were creating all-female sides and playing public matches to sell-out crowds, overshadowing the men’s football.

“Absolutely magnificent! A glorious tale of football, friendship, feminism and social history”
EMMA CARROLL

 

Filed Under: Blog, BookOfTheDay, Books, Fiction Tagged With: factory, family, feminism, football, historical, history, social, sport, war, women, working, WWI

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