Allen, Peter. Rise and Fall: Great Empires That Shaped the World. Peter Allen, Illus. Addl. Creator Ziggy Hanaor. Cicada, 04/2024. 79pp. Nonfiction. Trade $22.99. 978-1-80066-048-9. GRADES 5–8. ADDITIONAL.
Nine early civilizations, arranged chronologically from the Minoan to the Kingdom of Ayutthaya (Siam), are described in this diverse world history book. Each is profiled in eight pages, from origin to decline, with information on culture, religion, and other notable aspects. The text is relatively brief, with just a few paragraphs per spread and a few facts sprinkled throughout the illustrations using a small text. The folk-art style, full-color cartoonish illustrations show each culture’s architecture, clothing, and racial makeup; most of the human figures are small. In a few cases, the black print is on deeply colored backgrounds which can make it difficult to read. This serves to introduce the nine civilizations, but many middle school students will need more detailed sources when writing reports. Back matter includes a useful glossary but a map showing the locations of these civilizations would have been helpful, too.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool