DIG Magazine
"A great read — informative, yet concise. Definitely a book you’ll want to revisit to try out every project. "
Children's Literature Review
"In this entertaining and informative book readers are provided an introduction to the ancient wonders of the world, their construction, purposes, and mysteries. Peppered throughout the text are activities designed to allow youngsters the chance to recreate elements of the construction and design processes used to build the great wonders of the ancient world. In addition, readers are given travel tips, personal biographies, and historical information all of which provide a very engaging overview of this interesting subject. Illustrations support the central themes and are of a satisfying and whimsical nature. This is a book that will appeal to youngsters with a sense of curiosity about the efforts of people in the past linked to magnificent construction projects."
SWON Libraries
"The wonderful resource book is filled with fun and educational information and activities focusing on the Seven Wonders of the World. There is an extensive glossary as well as a nice list of resources for further investigation. Teachers, parents, librarians, and children will enjoy this book for different reasons. Librarians could use the book for a summer camp or teacher resource boxes. Teachers can use the book as a wonderful resource for a variety of units. Parents could use the guide for rainy day activities. The book has endless possibilities." Literary Merit: Good; Characterization: Good; Recommendation: Recommended
Elissa Faro, Ph.D., Classical Art and Archaeology, University of Michigan
“A great introduction to archaeology for creative, engaged kids. With tons of delightful activities, this highly entertaining and informative book will get everyone excited about history, archaeology, and the diverse cultures of the world.”
Marla Conn, educational consultant
“The illustrations enhance the text and convey a feeling of the time period, while the motivating activities are appropriate for many different grade and age levels. Students will make real-world connections between the past and the present.”
Ted Lewin, author/illustrator, Lost City: The Discovery of Machu Picchu
“Having visited many of these sites myself, I can say that, besides being filled with fascinating information and details, Seven Wonders of the World evokes the wonder that such things exist at all. As a kid I would have loved doing the projects.”
Over 2,000 years ago, ancient Greek scholars named seven of the most wondrous monuments to civilization, including the Pyramids of Egypt and Statue of Zeus at Olympia. Through the centuries these treasures were known as the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Because all but the Egyptian pyramids have been lost to the ravages of time, a new list of seven wonders was established in 2007. These monuments, including Machu Picchu in Peru and the Great Wall of China, symbolize the creativity and ingenuity of human civilization.
Seven Wonders of the World introduces kids ages 9—12 to the seven wonders on the original list and the seven wonders on the new list. Learning about these icons of world culture offers opportunities to discover amazing civilizations, technological innovations, and our shared world heritage. Sidebars, fun trivia, and entertaining illustrations break up the text, making it easily accessible and engaging, while hands-on projects encourage active learning. Seven Wonders of the World meets common core state standards in language arts for reading informational text and literary nonfiction. Guided Reading Levels and Lexile measurements indicate grade level and text complexity.
Gr 4–6—This volume incorporates hands-on projects and activities with facts as it introduces the wonders of both the ancient and modern worlds, such as the Great Pyramid, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and the Colossus of Rhodes (ancient), as well as Petra, the Great Wall of China, and the Taj Mahal (from the modern list). Each chapter discusses the geographic and historical significance of the monument, as well as specifics about its construction such as materials used and dimensions. Textual material is clearly written and will hold readers' interest but the accompanying projects are uneven both in terms of relevance and clarity. For example, in the chapter about the Great Pyramid, the project is a "Royal Ship Puzzle," although King Khufu's Royal Ship is only mentioned in a sidebar. Many of the projects require materials not easily acquired, such as plaster of Paris and craft sand. In addition, some of them fail to include warnings for adult supervision, such as a hanging garden made out of an empty milk jug that does not include any prompting for special care when using sharp scissors to poke holes through the heavy plastic. Overall, an uneven offering about an interesting topic.—Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library
