Talking Walls

by Margy Burns Knight

Other authorsAnne Sibley O'Brien (Author)

Paperback, 1992

Status

Available

Call number

900

Publication

Tilbury House Publishers (1992), Edition: 1, 40 pages

Description

An illustrated description of walls around the world and their significance, from the Great Wall of China to the Berlin Wall.

Media reviews

Kirkus Reviews

What is a wall? ... Knight and O'Brien explore the concept in 14 two-page presentations of notable walls from six continents and many periods.... The brief, straightforward text has additional concluding notes; the large, double-spread illustrations are in a relaxed, impressionistic style,

expressive and lively with activity.... Thoughtfully composed, an unusually attractive book that wisely allows readers to draw their own inferences.

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Publishers Weekly

In a praiseworthy celebration of similarities and differences among the world's peoples, debut author Knight and O'Brien explore notable walls the world over as both symbols and vehicles for cultural connection. ... The narrative is respectful and egalitarian, with the clear intent of valuing no

one people over another. O'Brien's... well-designed and affecting pastels cover each spread; showing busy children at each wall, the illustrations... spur reader interest still further by shifting the perspective for each scene. A four-page afterword provides supplementary facts about the individual wall sites and keys them to a world map.

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User reviews

LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26

Author Margy Burn Knight and illustrator Anne Sibley O'Brien - who also worked together on Who Belongs Here?: An American Story, as well as the sequel to this one, Talking Walls: The Stories Continue - present the stories of fourteen walls in this picture-book tour of the world's peoples and

cultures. From walls that divide (the Berlin Wall, the walls of Nelson Mandela's prison) to walls that remember (the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, the Aboriginal rock wall, with paintings from as long ago as 30,000 years), the walls depicted here serve many purposes, and have many meanings, but in the end, the are all a record of human activity, of one kind or another.

Talking Walls is an engaging introduction to some of the diverse peoples of the world, organized around a theme that I would not have thought to use, myself. I appreciated each story, and the additional notes at the rear, although I did find myself wishing (just a little bit) that the stone walls of New England, which appear on the front endpapers, would have been explored as well. But then, I grew up around those kind of walls. Still, that's a minor (and very personal) quibble, and in no way detracts from the over-all excellence of this title!

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LibraryThing member PatsyAdams

This book is one of my absolute favorite books. It is all about walls in our time and in history. It brings to light the question, "Are walls to keep people in or out?" The book starts out with The Great Wall of China and then takes the reader to many famous walls throughout history. Each wall is

explained in about three paragraphs with beautiful illustrations. This book has many opportunities for discussion and could be the start of research projects. The books comes with a teacher edition that can be used in the classroom with many, many lesson ideas. If you like this there is a second book of the same name, continued.

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LibraryThing member szanes

Beautiful illustrations, excellent information for a wide range of grades. Good "kicking off" book for studies in monuments, historical landmarks.

LibraryThing member reassist

An illustrated description of walls around the world and their significance, from the Great Wall of China to the Berlin Wall.

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