R. J. Unstead (1921–1988)

Although there are other, newer books about castles out there, I like this one for its layout and clear explanations. The Contents are clearly indicated and the titles of each page set out the subtopic to be covered. The end of book provides the reader with a section of Important Happenings, which is essentially a timeline of events in Europe and the Middle East, and also a Glossary of Terms. The subtopics covered include the basic elements of the castle, like the Stone Keep and the Great show more Hall, as well as pictures and descriptions of famous castles. The drawings are clear with cutaways and detailed descriptions of the features. It would appeal to young readers as well as older students. show less

This is another in the popular series for children, providing young readers with an overview of what life was like inside an ancient Egyptian town. The contents are clearly listed in the beginning, with features like the Great Temple, the Workmen's Village, and Rock Tombs. There is a page in the back of the major gods and goddesses of Egypt, to use as a reference point for readers. There is also a timeline of Important Happenings in Egypt, Europe, the Near East and Asia, as well as a show more glossary of terms. Readers familiar with the series will appreciate the similarities from book to book. One thing that I found interesting about this book is that it focuses on a real city, that of Akhenaten, who is generally known as a heretic and was not well respected in his own time. I find it an interesting choice on the part of the author, because it would surely have been easier in some ways to focus on a city like Thebes or Memphis with less of a storied past. Overall, I think the sections about general information would be a great resource for young and old, anyone interested in ancient Egypt. show less

Virtually identical in format to the Macdonald 'Visual Books' series; this is like a scrapbook of the 1920's, crammed with photos and illustration on every page and gives a broad general image of life during that decade covering war and politics, industry and the arts.
As per the 'Visual Books' series, there are a few pages at the back containing projects for making: a scale 1920's car cast in polyester resin and a Crystal Radio Set.
Macdonald consistently publish very high quality and show more engaging material for Young adults who may otherwise find the subject matter boring. show less

Large format book with detailed illustrations, and useful maps. The text is sober and mature.