(2) YA Along the medieval Silk Road, a boy is cast out from the temple and nearly stoned to death by monks. He is purchased as a servant by a fast-talking merchant named Samir, for the price of six bolts of silk, and dubbed Monkey. Monkey watches Samir spin tales and make enemies everywhere he goes. In fact, the man is being hunted by six different "killing lines," from a Viking berserker to a Mongol gunner--though at the end of the first chapter it's Monkey who tantalizingly confesses: "That is why I killed him." The book is warmly funny, with folkloric commitment to larger-than-life characters, exaggerated perils, and plenty of jokes, punctuated by Miyares's lively and colorful illustrations. The formula of the six killing lines encourages readers to anticipate the unspooling of the tale; the twist regarding Samir's eventual death is more a reward than a shock. ­Celebration of the cultural riches of the Silk Road, along with the geographic, ­religious, and material diversity of the setting, make for engaging historical fiction--and a rollicking good yarn.

Reviewer: Anne St. John | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Neil Packer. In prose at once conversational and elegant, Frankopan tells the history of humanity through that of the silk roads, focusing on the religious, cultural, intellectual, and confrontational history of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Spanning from ancient times to the present, this ambitious volume (based on Frankopan's adult book) will satisfy history buffs and casual readers alike. Packer's gorgeous art ranges in style from classical to modern as the narrative progresses.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Patrick Benson. In this well-imagined tale set along the Silk Road, Yazul learns about kite-making from his grandfather and uses that knowledge to save his father's han (walled settlement) from bandits. A particular time and place are not specified, but complex relationships between the family's three generations feel authentic. Pages are beautifully presented with ornate borders and illustrated in tones of blue and brown.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(2) K-3 A girl in China, 850 AD, gives her father a jade pebble, "a gift for a child at the end of the [Silk] road." He passes Mei's pebble to a Buddhist monk, who passes along both pebble and his flute, and so on. Soft watercolor and gouache illustrations feature intricate patterns in the style of each country visited. An author's note is appended. Websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2013

(2) 4-6 Traveling Photographer series. From the arrival of tiny eggs to the growth of silkworms in baskets of mulberry leaves, the cooking of cocoons, and the creation of cloth, Sobol describes the stages of creating silk in lively writing and abundant photographs. With an appreciation for these Thai villagers and their culture, Sobol makes their story come alive in this follow-up to The Life of Rice. Glos.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2012

(3) 4-6 In 630 CE China, thirteen-year-old Chengli joins a caravan heading into the desert. When a princess entrusted to his caravan is kidnapped by bandits, Chengli ventures across the desert and mountains to rescue her. The story vividly shares glimpses of city, desert, and mountain life in seventh-century China. A historical note is appended.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(2) 4-6 Golden Mountain Chronicles series. In 1835, hard-working Swallow, with her mother and sister Lily, raises silkworms. In 1881, Lily's granddaughter learns of the great-aunt (Swallow) who sold herself into slavery so her family could survive. As the story continues, each generation of women, silk workers all, sacrifices for the sake of family. It all comes together to build a coherent and affecting portrait.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2011

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Tim Jessell. Mark's anthropologist dad heads to the Gobi Desert to "meet and live with the desert people like Marco Polo did." After Dad goes missing, Mark and his mother travel to Polo's home city of Venice to investigate. Fearful and tentative, the main character (with help from a talking dog) finds courage. The family drama plus stories of Marco in Italy will hold readers' interest. Bib.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) YA Great Explorers of the World series. Going above and beyond biographical information about its subject, each book offers readers a glimpse of the historical times, events leading up to and surrounding the men's travels, and the impact of their explorations on the world. The volumes are well illustrated with photos, archival art, and maps. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Great Explorers of the World titles: Columbus, Marco Polo, and Henry Hudson.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) 4-6 Explorers series. Illustrated by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini. Generously illustrated short chapters describe Marco Polo's journey from Italy to the court of Kublai Khan with his merchant father and uncle. Each double-page spread features a full-page painting; spot art accompanies boxed information, usually about an animal. A useful "Map of Marco Polo's Travels" is appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA A school art assignment nudges fourteen-year-old Joseph into an unconventional friendship with a neighborhood recluse rumored to have an unsavory past. A shared interest in raising silkworms gradually brings the two together and serves as the metaphorical pivot of the novel. Bauer spins a gentle tale about loss, pain, and unpredictable miracles of transformation.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. Promised in marriage to a king in distant Khotan, a reluctant Chinese princess, already homesick, surreptitiously takes along part of her beloved homeland--silkworms and mulberry seeds--thereby carrying the secret of silk production to the outside world. Expansive Chinese ink and watercolor illustrations with a butterfly motif complement the lyrical first-person narrative. A historical note is appended.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Several thousand years ago in China, a princess unraveled a silkworm cocoon and embarked on a magical dream-adventure that culminated in the weaving of the first silk garment. Santore's expanded version of the legend of the discovery of silk, presented in sophisticated language (and too-small print), meanders; however, the elegant art, modeled after Chinese painting, will likely catch readers' eyes.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) 4-6 Great Journeys Across Earth series. Each series volume details a historically important expedition. The circumstances leading up to the journey as well as the aftermath are also discussed. Also included is information about who accompanied the explorers and the experiences they all had. Numerous sidebars, maps, and illustrations provide additional information (though the crowded pages divide attention). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Great Journeys across Earth titles: Captain Cook's Pacific Explorations, Burton and Speke's Source of the Nile Quest, Amundsen and Scott's Race to the South Pole, Hillary and Norgay's Mount Everest Adventure, Lewis and Clark's Continental Journey, Magellan's Voyage around the World, and Marco Polo's Travels on Asia's Silk Road.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Initially reluctant because she is embarrassed by her Korean heritage, seventh-grader Julia warms to her 4-H-like project of raising silk worms. But when she learns that she must kill the worms to reap the silk, she faces difficult moral choices. Park undermines her engaging novel with metafictional conversations between herself and Julia that interrupt the narrative flow.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2005

(3) K-3 Using Materials series. The short, clear sentences found in each book's thirteen subdivisions supply basic information about the uses and properties of their subjects, such as silk's being soft and warm but not waterproof. Well-chosen captioned photos illustrate the texts, which are reinforced by relevant sidebars, as on why paper would make a bad chair. The uncluttered formats enhance accessibility for young readers. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Using Materials titles: How We Use Silk, How We Use Metal, How We Use Paper, and How We Use Rubber.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Cascade Mountain Railroad Mysteries series. A mysterious unscheduled train and a burlap bag containing a cryptic note and a gun inspire Billy and his friends to investigate some of the employees at the railroad work camp where they live. The prose is pedestrian, but the plot contains greater suspense than previous volumes in the series, and the 1926 Washington setting continues to add an element of historical interest.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) K-3 Early Bird Nature Books series. These two books describe the habitats, unique characteristics, behaviors, and body parts of silkworm moths and octopuses. Both books feature clear color photos and accurate diagrams. While the information is accessible, the text in Silkworm Moths isn't as focused as in other books in this series. A concluding note to adults includes suggested activities and gives tips on how to share the book with children. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Early Bird Nature Books titles: Silkworm Moths and Octopuses.]

Reviewer: Erin Dionne

(2) 4-6 This book introduces eight artists living in America whose family histories stem from countries along the ancient Silk Road. In recounting backgrounds and influences, the authors touch on ethnic customs, conflicts, and beliefs, as well as on the present-day American immigrant experience. Along with well-placed illustrations and photos, a map and an annotated reading list enhance this contribution to intercultural understanding. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2003

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Paul Mombourquette. Emma loves the "silkers," fast-moving trains that race the clock with their valuable cargoes of silk. When one of the silkers derails, Emma hopes to find a missing bolt of the precious fabric for a silk garment of her own. Securing the silk from the fast-moving river almost costs her life--then saves it. The text and the richly colored oil paintings provide a fine portrayal of another place and time.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn