Live Like A Tudor: Discovering the Secrets of the Tudors

Gr 4-6–Saunders offers a succinct summary of the Tudors and their reigns. The text is a combination of facts, narrative, crafts, and recipes, with detailed drawings in rich tones on colored paper. Most of the information is provided in short paragraphs accompanied by drawings. The Tudors and their family tree are explained with the lines of descent and succession laid out at the start. Additional subjects include religion, society, education, and other aspects of everyday life. Certain facts are called out in red or white boxes. Spread-length illustrations display the layout of a village or architecture of a Tudor townhouse or show daily activities, such as a meal laid out on a table. Acting as a guide, Mary, a young girl from an upper-class family, describes a visit to court, going to the theater, and celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas, adding a more personal perspective to Tudor life. Crafts range from sewing to games, and the recipes included are easy to make with basic ingredients. Black Tudors receive a paragraph explaining how Africans came to England. It notes that there was a Black trumpeter in Henry the VIII’s court. The Transatlantic Slave Trade is discussed in the Trade section. A glossary of terms from the Tudor era ends this well-rounded book. The layout of images and text make it easy to follow each topic discussed.