RUPERT’S PARCHMENT, STORY OF MAGNA CARTA
by Eileen Cameron
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Pub Date Apr 01 2015 | Archive Date May 25 2015
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Description
A Note From the Publisher
Author is available for interviews, blog tours, autographed book giveaways, contests, and book club discussions.
Advance Praise
Self-Published Review:
The award-winning team of Eileen Cameron and Doris Ettlinger have collaborated once again to createRupert’s Parchment: Story of Magna Carta. June 15, 2015 marks the 800th birthday of the Magna Carta and this story is a wonderful way to introduce and bring to life the momentous event to young readers....
In the back of the book, Cameron has included a section explaining the importance of the charter. This section is packed with historical facts, and it’s a great addition to the book. Educators and parents can use her ideas and explanations as a way to get children to dig deeper into history. Also, she has included a who’s who, lists the places involved in the significant event, and a glossary. Teachers will appreciate how she compares some of the clauses from Magna Carta to some of the amendments in the American Bill of Rights, showing how Magna Carta still influences today’s society.
This children’s book would be a great addition to a classroom setting. Teachers and parents will appreciate how Cameron and Ettlinger have brought to life such an important event in a way that is understandable and accessible for young readers. And hopefully a story like this will instill a fascination and appreciation of history and instruct readers how events that happened long ago still have relevance today." 5 stars
FROM MIDWEST REVIEWS:
Rupert's Parchment: The Story of the Magna Carta tells the story of the historic Magna Carta from the viewpoint of young Rupert, who enjoys a ringside seat at the historic event at Runnymede in the year 1215.
Illustrator Doris Ettlinger adds colorful visual embellishments to this picture book saga, which requires good reading skills (or parental assistance) but will appeal to kids who have the reading basics well in hand and who are interested in lively stories based on real facts.
It's unusual to see a picture book treatment of a subject usually broached in middle school and older history courses as a dry fact. In contrast, this presentation adds life, color, and personality to events, emphasizing to a younger audience why the historic Magna Carta signing was so important.
From the fine art of papermaking (which twelve-year-old Rupert is learning from his father) to politics between royalty, land barons, and the populace, Rupert's Parchment deftly captures the tone and timber of its times: "We heard news of the King’s soldiers riding to fight the noble barons,” said Father. “Will there be war? The King’s sheriffs have even seized horses of townsfolk.” “Uncle’s carts were taken,” said Rupert. “This year of 1215 has seen much trouble,” said the clerk."
The result does require both good picture book reading skills (there are sometimes numerous paragraphs of text per page) and an interest in historical events; but those with such abilities will find here a lively treatment of historical fact - fictionalized, to be sure; but filled with the background information to make for an accurate, lively read.
Add a concluding discussion of principles, casts of characters, a glossary, and an overview of the basic principles of the Magna Carta and its amendments and you have a unique treatment that grades 3-6 will relish.
Marketing Plan
Author Bio:Eileen Cameron is a noted author of books for young readers including "Canyon", a story of the creation of canyons, and "G is for the Garden State." She majored in Government at Skidmore College and earned an MPA at NYU. Eileen has served on numerous historical preservation boards, including the Lifeguard Board at George Washington's Mount Vernon and is currently a trustee of the Washington Association of New Jersey. She studied writing for children at numerous institutions including the New School. Eileen lives in Florida and summers in a green New Jersey valley near historic Washington's Headquarters.
Cameron's and Ettlinger's "G is for the Garden State" was selected as the Book of the Year - 2005 by the NJ Center For the Book, chosen by the Official NJ 350 Anniversary Committee as one of the 101 Books of New Jersey - 2014, and noted by the NJ Library Association's One Book New Jersey as the selection for Children's Book Category - 2014.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781620869840 |
| PRICE | $17.95 (USD) |
Average rating from 10 members
Featured Reviews
Donna M, Reviewer
I was delighted to receive a copy of this book with 2015 being an important anniversary year for the Magna Carta. The book in my view is excellent and gives a brilliant overview in not too simple terms, the basis of the book is the story of the Magna Carta being agreed and signed and how this came about, which are accompanied by some excellent illustrations. It then has some brilliant facts and a summary of those involved. It really is very good and informative. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Ian W, Reviewer
This is an amazing story for children - not your usual bland stuff. It's a true story in a way, but of course it's fictionalized since no one actually recorded whose sons were there at Runnymede. Maybe it actually happened this way?
To begin with, I found myself wondering how many American kids would like this story. Could they relate to it? But then I found myself wondering how many English kids could. Finally I found myself realizing that if they were anything like me when I was a kid, they'd more than likely love it because it involves a true story, and kings and knights, and nobles and barons, and the secrets of the trade, so what's not to love - and learn from?
Rupert is the son of the parchment-maker (don't worry, it's all explained in this book). He's happy to help out and learn an important trade which will see him set up for later life. On the day soldiers show-up and deprive his dad of their hand-cart, some monks also show-up asking for the very best parchment Rupert's dad can supply. What's going on?
Rupert has no idea. His family is happy to make it from one day to the next. They're really not up on politics and royal intrigue. He is up for adventure, however, so he's thrilled to get the chance to travel along with the scribes to Runnymede where a bunch of irate noblemen are about to harangue the only English king to be named after a toilet, about injustices.
Rupert gets to see (and spy) first hand on the activities and to celebrate the resulting Great Charter which laid the foundations of a constitution for the nation, from which we could view distantly, had we the foresight, the earliest beginnings of a significant loss of royal power in Britain.
Reviewer 238479
2015 marks the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, which was signed in Runnymede in June 1215.
The perfect moment for this splendid picture book.
In Rupert's Parchment we hear the story of the actual event from 12 year old Rupert, who is the son of a parchment maker.
The bishop's clerk arrives at the door of his father's workshop and requests the best parchment for the meeting in Runnymede. It turns out, that the bishop's young messenger has fallen ill and Rupert jumps at the chance to help out, as it means he will be able to be in Runnymede and see the events first hand.
We watch King John's arrival in the meadow by the river Thames and eavesdrop when the barons and bishops present their demands to the King. We see how the final agreement is written down and join in the celebrations.
At the end of the book we find an excellent summary, "All about Magna Carta" and a glossary, followed by a comparison of the Magna Carta and the American Bill of Rights from 1791.
The book offers a very good understanding of the importance of events in 1215 and the far reach of what happened so long ago to our laws and legal system in the UK and the USA today.
The character of Rupert is very likeable and well chosen and one children can identify with.
The illustrations are superb and tie in perfectly with the story.
We also learn how parchment was made.
The book has turned out to be a very helpful tool during lessons as it brings history alive in a way children enjoy. And the lessons we enjoy are the ones we remember most.
Highly recommended.
Elaine B, Reviewer
A superb telling of the signing of the Magna Carta, told as if from the experiences of twelve year old Rupert, the son of a parchment maker. The story is related in a manner that makes it easy to understand the significance of the events and the impact on the people at that time. The sections after the story give further details about Magna Carta, its contents and relevance to life and laws today not only in England, where it was signed, but in the USA, too, and the 1791 Bill of Rights there. A great way in which to bring history to life in a way that children will easily understand and empathise with. The illustrations are detailed and enhance the text and comprehension of events. This is a great book to help children consider life in the past and the impact of events from so long ago being still relevant today. I believe this book will prove invaluable to any teachers trying to explain events from this time period to their students.
Thanks to the author and publishers, too, for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.
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