On the Run in Ancient China (Time Travel Guides, The, 3) - Hardcover

Bailey, Linda

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1525301527 ISBN 13: 9781525301520

Publisher: Kids Can Press, 2019

Synopsis

It's the tantalizing smell of Chinese food that's enticed the Binkerton children back into the creepy Good Times Travel Agency. Sure, the fried noodles are delicious, but then the shop owner pulls another one of his mysterious guidebooks off his shelf and before they can stop him, he's sent the children hurtling back in time once again. This time they land in first-century China, where little Libby quickly manages to slip away from Josh and Emma in an official carriage headed to the capital city. But while she's living the ancient China high life with nobility, the twins get mistaken for barbarian spies and soon they're being chased by imperial guards! Will the twins manage to find Libby, and their way back home, before the guards catch up to them?

This graphic novel from the critically acclaimed time-travel series by award-winning duo Linda Bailey and Bill Slavin offers a fun read with a terrific historical overview of ancient China. Bailey's fast-paced narrative is quirky and funny. The fun device of featuring excerpts from an engagingly-written guidebook on every page keeps the key historical facts and figures easy to digest. Slavin's detailed and humorous illustrations are pitch perfect for the story. Thoroughly researched, this book would be an excellent companion to social studies and history lessons, encompassing politics and government, philosophy, science and technology, travel and trade, civic rights and responsibilities, community and traditions. The back matter includes an index, further resources and six pages of additional information about ancient China.

About this title

About the Author:

Linda Bailey is an award-winning author of many books for children, including the Stanley series, If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur and If Kids Ruled the World. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Bill Slavin is an award-winning children's book illustrator of over 100 books. His works include the Stanley series, Drumheller Dinosaur Dance and The Farm Team. He lives in Millbrook, Ontario.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 3-7-Bailey and Slavin's visually engaging book strikes the right balance between the trials of the time-warped Binkerton siblings and fun historical facts. Each page is divided into two sections. At the top, the illustrated adventures of the three Binkertons prevail. Twins Emma and Josh fumble their way through the daily duties of the working class, while young Libby entertains the elite. Along the bottom, readers find pages of the guidebook the twins use to navigate society. As Bailey points out, the Chinese empire was "the longest continuous empire in world history," lasting two millennia. With such a massive time frame, it is tempting to think that the representations of this ancient culture lack specificity. The opening gambit-Libby's desire for fried noodles-risks conflating "Ancient Chinese" with "Chinese" or even "North American Chinese." But Bailey tracks historical change, such as the evolution of the Great Wall. Bailey also concertedly challenges Eurocentric narratives of civilization. The Binkertons are constantly confronted with the fact that they are seen as "barbarians." Despite their protests to the contrary, the book reveals how the printing press, paper, and gunpowder were all invented by the ancient Chinese. After the Binkertons arrive safely in the present day, the afterword provides more historical context, maps, and a list of resources. VERDICT This action-packed illustrated adventure will teach and delight a wide range of readers about ancient China.-Katherine Magyarody, Texas A&M University, College Stationα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

About this edition

• Publisher: Kids Can Press
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1525301527
• ISBN 13: 9781525301520
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 56
• Illustrator: Slavin Bill