Raucous Royals by Carlyn Beccia
I have just posted my exclusive interview with Carlyn Beccia, author of The Raucous Royals the winner of the International Reading Association’s 2009 Children’s and Young Adult Book Award for Intermediate-Nonfiction.
Carlyn describes The Raucous Royals as “history lesson meets tabloid magazine.” Beccia explains, “we think that Hollywood stars are the only ones that are abused by untrue rumors and gossip. History’s most famous royals faced the same challenges. They didn’t get maligned by tabloid magazines but pamphlets, caricatures, silly rhymes and simple word of mouth caused just as much damage to their image.”
The Raucous Royals invites readers to become a history detective and come to their own conclusions about 13 pretty raucous royals. Each of these rulers is remembered for rumors and gossip that have survived thousands of years. Some of these rumors are true and some of them are false. And with some of them we will never know.
Included in the 13 raucous royals are Richard III, Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Anne of Cleves, Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I.
Wouldn’t this make a fabulous Christmas gift for the kids!
I Feel Better with a Frog in my Throat
And speaking of fabulous, Carlyn recently sent me her newly published I Feel Better with a Frog in my Throat to enjoy with my six year old daughter who loves anything gruesome or out of the ordinary (Thank you Carlyn!).
In this book, Beccia takes us on a medical journey through history looking at some pretty strange cures. We discover that in the past people tried some pretty crazy things like drinking a glass full of millipedes or hanging a necklace of worms around their neck!
The book is funny, colourful, interesting and full of Beccia’s trademark witty illustrations that appeal to both children and adults alike. My daughter absolutely loved the book and apart from having a good laugh she also learnt a lot.
Another fabulous idea for a Christmas present!
To find out more about this wonderful author read our interview here.
I loved The Raucous Royals.. very funny and informative…