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National Trust: The Castle the King Built

Rebecca Colby, Tom Froese (illus)
Nosy Crow
ISBN: 9781788006590

The Castle the King Built is a great story, with a mix of non-fiction. It is the story of how the King built his castle and all the different people who either helped build it or help with the day to day running of the castle. We meet the stonemasons, knights, servants, minstrels and of course the King himself!



The rhyming text mimics the nursery rhyme, This is the House that Jack Built. I liked the way in which the story was simple and used repetition to build up each part adding on another role within the castle, which is easy for children to follow and also read.



The way in which the author has also used the proper names for each group of people within the castle and not simplified the language and used the correct terminology is more appealing and ensures learning is taking place is a smart and simple way. This is then explained at the back of the book with each person explaining what they did and who they were.



The illustrations by Tom Froese are beautiful, colourful and full pages, giving you lots to look at and you are able to see what is happening in the life of a castle. This is a lovely and well-presented mix of historical fiction and non-fiction and a great collaboration with The National Trust.



Picture book / Ages 5+ / Reviewed by Lauren Maidman, teacher

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