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This picture book of beautiful paintings and enigmatic poems profiles historic castles and the legends that surround them. From Russia to Ireland to Japan and even to Hearst Castle in the United States, an aspect of each castle is depicted in a lushly evocative painting while a brief poem raises a lingering question associated with the castle: Why do Swiss angels at Chillon Castle whisper, "Bonivard"? Why does lovely Anne Boleyn weep tears at the Tower of London? Who was Empress Matilda? How mad was Mad King Ludwig? Inspired readers might be motivated to take these teasing poems and use them as entry points to further historical research. At the back of the book, a Medieval Minutes section provides intriguing facts about each building and situates each castle in its geographic region and historical era. There is also a world history time line that sets the construction of the castle against the wider scope of world history. A bibliography offers readers further information for expanded stories about the castles, their inhabitants, and the historical eras when castles were an accepted fact in the social order. Although definitely a middle-grade book, older fans of fantasy and history enthusiasts might find value in the intriguing stories of these noteworthy castles and their famous-and infamous-inhabitants. Young artists will find much to appreciate in the paintings.

—VOYA