Module 14-Castles: Old Stone Poems

Book Info:
Castles: Old Stone Poems by J. Patrick Lewis, illustrated by Dan Burr. Boyds Mills Press, 2006.

Summary:
A poetry collection relating information and history about sixteen different castles spanning time, the planet, mythology, and fact. There are poems about legendary figures like Count Dracula, Anne Boleyn, and Leonardo Da Vinci, and lesser known figures like King Ludwig, who locked himself away in his castle to escape the harshness of reality, and the brave Danish prince, Eric, who was purportedly eaten by a dragon. The illustrations complement each poem by examining the difference between the castles depicted and the poems describing them and the events that took place there. Also included are bibliographic references, a timeline, and facts about castles.
My Take:
I've always enjoyed castle lore and anything to do with the medieval period, so I immediately gravitated towards this book. I loved how the poems did more than just relate facts or stories about the castles depicted; they evoked emotions relating to the castles and the places and people and events that happened there. The pictures are especially lush and intriguing; I know I definitely want to do some more research into these edifices and the history surrounding them.
Reviews:
Booklist (October 01, 2006 ; 1-59078-380-8 )
"Castles have a perennial allure for young people, and this illustrated poetry collection celebrates some of the most legendary, from England's Bodiam Castle and the Tower of London to Japan's Himeji Castle and California's Hearst Castle. Each spread focuses on a different location, and the words often reflect a contemporary viewer imagining long-ago life: "What splendor did the maid see / from that window long ago?" Lewis and Dotlich are frank about the bloodshed and terror that are part of the history, when "beheadings were as easy as breathing." Children may need help with some of the allusions ("Windows pierce the sky like hushed haiku," for example) and the historical context. Burr's paintings add immediacy and sense to the words in dramatic scenes of medieval courts and castles, and the extensive appended material includes a bibliography, time line, and background about each site. Suggest this for classroom exercises that show how poetry can help bring history into the present. Gillian Engberg Copyright 2006 Booklist"
Suggestions:
A fun and interesting way to look at poetry that will no doubt interest kids as not only are they learning about history, but also about poetry. This book would be great for storytimes, though the audience might need to be tempered given the mentions of violence and terror. This could also be beneficial in encouraging children to learn more about castles and the history surrounding them, especially with the timeline and "Medieval Minutes" sections.