My Words on Children's Literature

Genre 4 NONFICTION AND BIOGRAPHY

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Stanley, Diane and Peter Vennema. 1990. GOOD QUEEN BESS. Ill. by Diane Stanley. New York: Four Winds Press. ISBN 0027868109

2. PLOT SUMMARY

The book begins at the point in Elizabeth’s life when her father King Henry VIII is desperately trying to have a son. He establishes the Church of England so that he can divorce his current wife, Catherine of Aragon, so he could marry someone younger who can have lots of children. During this time, Elizabeth is growing up in the background living away from court and being well-educated. She must wait until she is 25 years old to become queen, but when she does the people of England are ready for her. She is wise, clever, strong, and tolerant. She loved her people and they loved her. When she died, all Europe paid homage to this great queen.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book is well-researched with many illustrations which clearly show the pageantry of royal life. The highlights of Elizabeth's life as Queen of England summarized in this book may pique the reader's interest to learn more. For example, the reader may wonder about life in the Tower after reading "...and the young princess was taken to the Tower." The book devotes little space to her childhood, which would be of interest to children. "Though Henry didn't think his daughters were fit to rule England, he did believe in giving them a good education." This line and the following gives only a partial glimpse into her early years. The liveliness of royal life is somehow missed, possibly because those details and anecdotes were not included. The full-color illustrations showcase the characters in precise detail and pure, tightly patterned hues. The picture book format encourages older elementary students to read and enjoy this material. The brief introduction which explains the European context of religious tension between Catholics and Protestants during the Reformation is quite helpful to the young reader who does not know this history. This is a great introduction and taste of Queen Elizabeth.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT

New York Times Book Review: "The book accurately describes the history, costume and culture of the Elizabethan era. Sadly, however, it does little to capture the spirit of this extraordinary queen. . . .”

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s books: "This compressed history of Elizabeth I's life and times benefits from a combination of selective text and elaborated art.”

5. CONNECTIONS

*Projects surrounding Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth, or monarchs in general would benefit from this book.

Other related books:

Davidson, Celeste. THE QUEEN'S PROGRESS: AN ELIZABETHAN ALPHABET. ISBN 0670036129

Greenblatt, Miriam. ELIZABETH I AND TUDOR ENGLAND.

ISBN 0761410287

// posted by catalogblog @ 7:17 AM