Castle Diary: The Journal of Tobias Burgess - Softcover

Platt, Richard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0763621641 ISBN 13: 9780763621643

Publisher: Candlewick, 2003

Synopsis

"Not many, if any, children’s books on the Middle Ages and castles contain the wealth of information found in this fresh, appealing offering." — School Library Journal (starred review)

What was it really like to live in a castle? Step back to the Middle Ages with Castle Diary: the Journal of Tobias Burgess. Eleven-year-old Toby’s vivid diary entries offer an insider’s view of day-to-day castle life, including tips on etiquette (where do you spit at a feast?) and exciting descriptions of hunting, jousting, and harvesting. Complete with glossary, index, and detailed endnotes, this is a rich look at medieval life that informs as much as it entertains.

About this title

About the Author:

RICHARD PLATT is an avid fan of castles and the author of many innovative and best-selling books for children, including CROSS SECTIONS: CASTLE, illustrated by Stephen Biesty.

Chris Riddell is one of the most acclaimed children's book illustrators in the United Kingdom. In addition to his skill as an illustrator, he brings to CASTLE DIARY a wicked sense of humor, perhaps the result of his years as a political cartoonist.

From Publishers Weekly:

The author of Stephen Biesty's Cross-Sections: Castle uses a different approach to cover much of the same material in this fictive journal of an 11-year-old boy in the 13th century. Adopting a faux-medieval styleAsufficiently different from modern English to evoke a historical setting, but sufficiently familiar to set readers at easeAPlatt describes a year in the life of Tobias Burgess, a typical English page; he waits on patrons, learns lessons (Latin and the Scriptures, archery, horseback riding, and sword fighting), fights and plays with fellow pages. Tobias's wry observations focus as much on castle events as on his own role within themAthe winter hunt (Tobias misses the kill, and what's more, gets lost on the way back to the castle), the springtime tournament (anxiously awaited, but a huge bore in the actual event), a summer visit from a high-ranked earl, etc. Riddell's (The Swan's Stories) abundant, adeptly detailed pen-and-watercolor illustrations are obviously not intended to pass for Tobias's work. Populating the pages of this oversize volumeAin spot art, full-bleed and double-page spreadsAhis humorously dour characters are an inspired accompaniment to Tobias's less-than-glorious narrative. An informative and amusing introduction to the medieval world. Ages 9-13. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0763621641
• ISBN 13: 9780763621643
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 128
• Illustrator: Riddell Chris