Publishers Weekly
10/06/2014
Readers receive a lavish tour of the Forbidden City, once home to Chinese emperors and now a museum, courtesy of Chiu and the Design and Cultural Studies Workshop, which he founded. Delicate line drawings highlight the architectural intricacies of the nearly 178-acre complex (several foldout spreads emphasize its size) while Chiu examines the Ming and Qing dynasties in thorough detail, along with major events in the palace’s history. (In one foldout scene, 24 emperors offer pithy, even brusque notes on their reigns—“I was entirely unaccomplished,” says Emperor Longqing.) A magnifying glass is wisely included to help readers appreciate the wealth of visual detail. Ages 9–up. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
"My favorite part of this book is that great care has been taken to encourage children to interact with the story. There is a plastic magnifying glass included to allow careful examination of the detailed black and white illustrations – which are essentially a more sophisticated version of the popular 'Where's Waldo?' pictures." —Smart Mom Picks blog
"Rarely a book comes into our home that grabs the attention of every member of our family as this one has. In the Forbidden City is part history book, part art book, part scavenger hunt... It is such a lovely book and one that I'm sure will educate and entertain my family for a long time. For Chinese history fans or newbies alike, this would make a great gift." —Cherry Blossoms blog
"This book contains a fascinating account of life beyond the gates of the Forbidden City during the Ming and Qing dynasties. An extensive survey of its history is included, with line drawings and fold-out spreads that cover everything from the lives of palace inhabitants to the numerous political conflicts and intrigues that was an inevitable part of palace life." —Travel Life magazine
"While the text is aimed at upper elementary students, readers of all ages will spend hours poring over the pages to make sure they catch it all. This is one of the first books from the We All Live in the Forbidden City program to be translated into English, and if this book is any indication, librarians and students will look forward to future titles. An excellent, exquisitely designed volume." —School Library Journal
"Personally, I love the illustrations and all of the information included in the book. I've been learning a ton, and I've still got lots of the book to read! This book would be a wonderful gift for anyone interested in the Forbidden City or Chinese Imperial history. I highly recommend both!" —Growing My Kids Reviews blog
"Travel through time as the book unfolds the history of the Forbidden City. How some of the emperors became wealthy and powerful, how the empire suffered a slow decline crippled by invasions from foreign countries. Take a tour through the Meridian Gate; The Year Ten Thousand Envoys came to pay tribute (The Gate of Supreme Harmony), Hall of Mental Cultivation, the North Gate of the Forbidden City and many more... The book also gives detailed pencil outline drawings of the Forbidden City, including the buildings, gardens, courtyards and more with symmetrical layouts. I really enjoyed reading the book and I hope you will too." —Mymcbook's Blog
"This was an amazingly complete book. I have never been to the Forbidden City, but this book takes you through the entire city and allows you to explore why this city is so amazing. Each section in this book shows you why each part was made, when it was made, who made it and what it means. I loved the magnifying glass in the back of the book as there was so much on each page and the illustrations were so well done with so much detail you needed the magnifying glass to blow up the pictures to see everything. You will learn so much about every part of the city and this book will definitely intrigue you and encourage you to visit this amazing place soon!" —Dad of Divas blog
"In the Forbidden City is another learning tool for your child on all that it took to build this popular landmark. My son loved following the mischievous cat that takes you on the journey in and throughout the Forbidden City. With all of the fold out pages inside, your child's eyes will light up as these amazing drawings takes them inside this 'secret city'" —Parenting Healthy blog
School Library Journal
★ 12/01/2014
Gr 3–6—With the scope of David Macaulay's architectural series (Houghton Harcourt) and the whimsy of Martin Handford's "Where's Waldo?" books (Candlewick), this attractive volume introduces readers to the architecture and history of China's imperial compound and its inhabitants. Large line drawings show parts of the Forbidden City, the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty, located in Beijing, in great detail, with several folding out for multiple pages. The buildings and grounds are all heavily populated—interiors often feature people who would have lived there when the emperor did, and exteriors are filled with modern-day tourists. Readers will appreciate (but won't require) a magnifying glass, which is included to help catch all the details. (Can you find the cat in each picture?) Paragraphs of text highlight architectural details and stories about imperial life under different reigns. Cartoon figures and captions help differentiate among different rulers and dynasties within the city. Kwong-chiu has made a potentially complicated and confusing subject accessible and fascinating without oversimplifying it. While the text is aimed at upper elementary students, readers of all ages will spend hours poring over the pages to make sure they catch it all. This is one of the first books from the We All Live in the Forbidden City program to be translated into English, and if this book is any indication, librarians and students will look forward to future titles. An excellent, exquisitely designed volume.—Jennifer Rothschild, Arlington County Public Libraries, VA
Kirkus Reviews
2014-10-01
In this Chinese import, readers become tourists as each page turn provides views into labyrinthine courtyards and palaces once reserved for imperial China's emperors. For almost 600 years, the Forbidden City was home to emperors and their entourages during the Ming and Qing dynasties from 1421 to 1912. Today it stands as the world's largest enclosed palace and museum, visited by millions of tourists. If readers can't visit Beijing, this gives an intriguing alternative. On the table of contents, a bird's-eye-view plan offers a helpful guide to where historical events took place. Through gray-toned, detailed illustrations on multipage spreads, the sections of the Forbidden City unfold, literally, into readers' hands. While the history covered is complex, there are elements throughout that make it accessible. Tourists and historical Chinese figures alike (and one curious cat) populate the pages, some with thought bubbles expressing facts and observations. A roll call of emperors showcases how each one was famous or infamous. However, most stories of everyday life, while interesting, can be quite dense. The type size is small. These sections are better suited for upper middle grades and older. But all ages will enjoy sifting through grand architectural renderings, especially with the enclosed magnifying glass. An impressive introduction to the Forbidden City. (author's note) (Nonfiction. 11 & up)
