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From Schools Library Association - Winter 2009

Permission to include this has been requested

Our Story: An illustrated History of 1066
978 1 904 62322 9
 

‘4 Kings, 3 battles, 2 invasions, and 1 throne’: this crisp summary of the year 1066 appears at the beginning of this unusual, and yes, excellent history book for children in the later primary years. The cover tells us that ‘History’ is ‘Ourstory’, and this book is certainly about one of the most important years in that story. What makes this such a good book?
 

First the account is a full one covering, amongst other things, the dispute about who should rule after Edward the Confessor’s death, Harold Godwin’s problems with the rest of his family, the Battle of Hasting and William the Conqueror’s coronation. And young readers are helped through a complicated story by the inclusion of family trees, a glossary and references to websites.


A second strong feature is the ‘How do we know this?’ commentary on each page – so valuable for children beginning to get to grips with the notion of historical research and writing. These commentaries refer to source for the information in the narrative while making it clear that care must be taken in relying on them.

A third and crucial thing in this book’s favour is the quality of the narration, which is lucid, accessible and, above all, engrossing.
 

Are the illustrations a fourth strength? Their manga style will not appeal to everybody but many children will find them helpful and entertaining. And they show the role of the visual in explaining history – character and motivation are shown in gesture and facial expression. The illustrator has also taken some pains over the historical accuracy. For example the picture showing a coffin (containing weapons rather than a body) being used to hold open a town’s gates and thus ‘allowing Harold’s soldiers to rush in and capture it, I based on a reliable source and I typical of Harold’s character’.


More books like this one introducing historical study in a sympathetic way are needed if ‘ourstory’ is to be understood by today’s children.
 

Copyright School Library Association
Winter 2009

Visit the SLA website
 

Interesting links

bullet Battle of Fulford
bullet Battle of Stamford Bridge
bullet Battle of Hastings
bullet English Heritage
bullet Battlefields Trust
bullet Young Archaeologists Club (CAB)
bullet York Archaeological Trust
bullet Regia re-enactors
bullet Viking re-enactors
bulletOnline documents

Events

bullet Riccall Rampage 24 July 2010
bullet Jorvik Festival (there will be another one in 2011!)
bullet Fulford Festival 2010
bullet Festival of archaeology 2010

 

 

 

 

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last updated 20 Julyy 2010