Stephen Biesty's Castles
#1 in Stephen Biesty's Cross-Sections Series
illustrations by
on Goodreads (49)
What’s inside...
This book offers a remarkable portrait of ten historic castles, featuring Stephen Biesty's detailed illustrations and Meredith Hooper's engaging narratives. It brings to life the knights, kitchenmaids, sultans, samurai, soldiers, and spies who inhabited these castles, and tells the captivating stories of their dungeons, secret passageways, towers, and toilets. The castles included are Chateau Gaillard, Windsor, Krak des Chevaliers, Caernarfon, Bodiam, Castel Sant' Angelo, Chambord, Tower of London, Osaka, and Neuschwanstein.
Discussion points
What do you think daily life was like for people living in castles? Can you imagine the different roles people had?
Which part of the castle would you like to explore first and why?
How do you think castles were built back then? What challenges might the builders have faced?
Why were castles so important in medieval times? How did they help the people who lived there?
If you could design your own castle, what special features would you include to make it strong and comfortable?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to visualize the castle settings by asking them to draw their interpretation of a castle from the book or describe it in detail.
Connect the story to real-world history by discussing how real castles were built and used in medieval times, enhancing the child's historical understanding.
Ask your child to compare and contrast different parts of the castle and think about what life might have been like in each area, fostering critical thinking.
Suggest your child to think about the strategic importance of castles, prompting them to consider how architecture and location can serve protective purposes.
Invite your child to create stories about the people who might have lived in the castles, encouraging creative thinking and empathy for historical figures.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding History and Culture
Explanation: Through meticulously detailed illustrations, 'Stephen Biesty's Castles' teaches children about the historical and cultural context of medieval castles.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply this knowledge by developing a deeper appreciation for history and cultural heritage, fostering respect and curiosity about different eras and societies.
Example Lesson: Importance of Teamwork
Explanation: The book highlights how many different people (like blacksmiths, knights, and servants) cooperatively worked together to maintain a castle.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to value teamwork, understanding that cooperating with others can achieve greater outcomes, whether in school projects, sports, or family activities.
Example Lesson: Innovative Problem-Solving
Explanation: It showcases the architectural ingenuity used in constructing castles, like moats and drawbridges, to solve security issues.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to think creatively and use problem-solving skills in their everyday challenges, such as devising ways to organize their rooms or resolve conflicts with peers.
Example Lesson: Diligence and Persistence
Explanation: The book portrays the painstaking effort and time required to build a castle, emphasizing the virtues of diligence and persistence.
Real-World Application: Kids can mirror this perseverance in their personal goals, understanding that valuable achievements require sustained effort and time, like mastering a new skill or completing a school project.