Kubla Khan: The Emperor of Everything

Working with what she acknowledges is "sketchy" information, Katherine Krull has nonetheless provided a detailed and fascinating account of Kubla Khan, the Mongol warrior who, in 1271, became emperor of China. Against overwhelming odds, Kubla Khan (grandson of the feared Genghis Kahn) oversaw an empire that he expanded to include Russia, Korea, Tibet and large portions of the Middle East. Unlike later emperors, Kubla Khan welcomed foreigners (including Marco Polo), and his reign was a golden age for the arts and sciences as he freely embraced new ideas from the far reaches of his empire and beyond.

Krull writes in a familiar, easily accessible style, yet she still conveys the majesty and immensity of Kubla Kahn's empire,

"On the Khan's show more birthday there was a wild party for as many as forty thousand people. That may sound like quite a guest list, but his bodyguards alone numbered twelve thousand. ... One party blended into another. Besides birthday bashes for his wives and children, other relatives, and various Mongol leaders, plus the parties for all religious holidays, there were celebrations for each of the thirteen lunar months. Most over-the-top was the New Year's festival. Everyone dressed in robes of white and watched the spectacle of five thousand elephants carrying in precious gifts for the Khan from all over his realm."

The text is written on parchment inspired pages and the previous passage is accompanied by an illustration of bedecked, marching elephants accompanied by soldiers while the waiting Khan and his wife are attended by white-robed guests. Illustrator Robert Bryd (Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village and Leonardo: Beautiful Dreamer) was a perfect choice for the story of this 13th century ruler. His folk art style illustrations complement and enhance Krull's storytelling, colorfully depicting the vastness of the Chinese empire and the resplendence of Kubla Khan's court, while conveying the sensibilities and possibilities of the time period. Every page is richly illustrated.

Contains author and illustrator notes and sources.
Highly recommended.
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A historical look at one of history's most successful and violent leaders. Advertised as bringing the Khan into the spotlight after years of serving as a supporting character to Marco Polo, The Emperor of Everything delves into the history and life of one of History's most intriguing rulers. Presented with colorful visuals, the book paints a vivid picture of this world leader while remaining straightforward and easy to understand. Children can easily follow along, whether they are reading for a class assignment or just for leisure.

It is the intricate, brightly-hued illustrations that steal the show in this picture book relating the life of 13th-century emperor, Kubla Khan. Indeed, Byrd’s rich illustrations of Kubla Khan and a long-ago Mongol empire are sure to fascinate even youngsters typically uninterested in history. Designed for older readers, there is a considerable amount of text in this book, but the writing is straightforward and engaging. Together, the clear text and brilliant imagery tells the dramatic story of the spectacular rise to power that was Kubla Khan’s life. Information about the emperor’s childhood and facts about Mongolian culture make the tale at once informative and interesting. Included is a list of references and additional show more resources on Kubla Khan’s life, some of which are specifically aimed young readers. Highly recommended. For ages 7-11. show less

I am not much of a nonfiction reader, so kid's nonfiction often suits me just fine. Kubla Khan is the perfect example. I might not read a lengthy book about the subject, but I loved this picture book biography. Engaging text, interesting topic and very atmospheric illustrations. Very good book for kids and adults.

This picture book biography depicts the life of Kubla Khan, Mongolian warrior who became emperor of almost all of Asia at one point. He had twelve thousand body guards and threw elaborate parties for many occasions. He also was the first ruler to attempt to educate all boys (regardless of family wealth). This is a great choice for kids who like learning about people and cultures.

Engaging biography, handsome illustrations.

Summary: This book tells the story of a lesser known Emporer in the 1200's in a way that younger children can understand. The book goes into detail about how this Emporer acted, what he did that was significant, and how accomplished he was during his time.
Review: this book gets five stars and is informational because it follows the life and accomplishments of an important man during his time. It goes into enough detail to explain how he was the first to create paper money, and despite his large territory was not as bloodthirsty or savage as one might think.
Media: Paint