Lost Cities

by Giles Laroche

Overview

Combining world culture, history, geography, and architecture, this visually stunning look at ancient cities around the globe takes readers to such places as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde, and the mysterious sculptures of Angkor Wat. Perfect for fans of This Is How We Do It and Atlas Obscura.

What would it be like if you lived a thousand years ago? To pass through the Hanging Gardens of Babylon on your way home? Or gaze at the stars from your cave dwelling in Mesa Verde?
 
On mountaintops, deserts, and the banks of rivers, ancient cities that once thrived have become lost to time. But in their ruins, we can find clues of the past and the extraordinary lives their residents lived. All it takes is a simple question: What was life like before?
 
Beautiful illustrations, masterfully crafted from layers of cut paper, ask readers to spend a day in the footsteps of someone from thousands of years ago.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781328753649
Publisher:	HMH Books
Publication date:	04/07/2020
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	1,060,128
Product dimensions:	12.00(w) x 10.50(h) x 0.35(d)
Lexile:	NC1360L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Giles Laroche, a master of cut-paper relief sculptures, captures stories from history that can't be told with photographs. Reviewers have called his art "truly masterful," "mind-bogglingly good," and "a visual feast." He lives in Salem, MA.  

Editorial Reviews

★ "With further mysteries and theories of these lost civilizations, this title will surely inspire young archaeologists to learn more about history and the ancient world. Laroche’s art is the real star of this title....The visual precision and attention to detail will captivate readers." —School Library Journal, STARRED review

"[I]mpressive detail thanks to Laroche's signature paper-relief art....Stunning visuals." —Kirkus 

"Laroche introduces 13 lost cities around the world.... Those who enjoyed reading about these places will be equally intrigued by the highly visual closing pages, where a timeline and a global map relate the sites to each other, both historically and geographically. A striking guide to lost cities." —Booklist

From the Publisher

★ 04/01/2020

Gr 1–4—Laroche takes readers back to the metropolises of the ancient world, like Babylon and Machu Picchu, and details the lives of their citizens. Using simple explanations for younger readers, the text lays out where these cities were built, who lived there, and how they may have disappeared. With further mysteries and theories of these lost civilizations, this title will surely inspire young archaeologists to learn more about history and the ancient world. Laroche's art is the real star of this title. Paper, cut and layered, builds beautiful landscapes with a 3D effect. The visual precision and attention to detail will captivate readers. A short note explains how each piece was created and may inspire young artists to try it for themselves. VERDICT Immaculate art and fun facts make this a must for any classroom collection.—Thomas Jonte, Pensacola State College, FL

School Library Journal

2020-01-12
Profiles of ancient cities from around the world, intricately illustrated, highlight their mysteries.

In Laroche's latest work of nonfiction for kids, settlements "lost" to time or conquest or that have unknown histories are described, each profile hitting on "Location," "Who lived here," "Why was it lost," "How was it found," and "What's mysterious." Cities such as Babylon (in present-day Iraq), Angkor Wat (in Cambodia), and Rapa Nui (now called Easter Island) are represented in impressive detail thanks to Laroche's signature paper-relief art. Backmatter includes a timeline, placing each city in chronological order of its construction, as well as an overview of Laroche's artistic process. Young readers who are fascinated by historical mysteries may find this an interesting jumping-off point for deeper exploration of the featured settlements; none of the profiles are extensive enough to satisfy research-project requirements or the curiosity of true history nerds. Readers will encounter language that normalizes colonization: For example, much of the information listed under Laroche's "How was it found?" sections describe European "explorers" and archaeologists who "rediscovered" or "visited" settlements built by the Indigenous peoples of the various continents. Additionally, the profile on Angkor Wat sets a peculiarly exocitizing scene: "If you had lived in this city…you would have encountered bizarre creatures, such as monkey-like wild macaques, flying wingless snakes, as well as people perched on elephants or dressed in colored silk sarongs."

Stunning visuals paired with some disappointing content. (Nonfiction. 5-10)

Kirkus Reviews

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