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Full-color photos. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the history and
technology of movies--how sets are built, how stunts are performed, how
cartoons and special effects are created, and how films are edited and
publicized before release. The "multiple visuals are eye-catching, impressive,
and accurate."-- "School Library Journal.
"
technology of movies--how sets are built, how stunts are performed, how
cartoons and special effects are created, and how films are edited and
publicized before release. The "multiple visuals are eye-catching, impressive,
and accurate."-- "School Library Journal.
"
12 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1992
About the author
Richard Platt
258 books27 followers(1953–)
Richard Platt is the author of more than sixty informative books for young readers, and he also writes for innovative multimedia projects. Some of his most popular works have been collaborations with illustrator Stephen Biesty on the "Cross-Sections" series. After a failed attempt to forge a career as a photographer, Platt discovered that he had a knack for writing. "I started writing about photography: first magazine articles, then books," he explained on the Walker Books Web site. "I got a job editing children's books, then went on to write them."
In the 1990s, Platt teamed up with popular juvenile illustrator Biesty for several books, beginning with Stephen Biesty's Incredible Cross-Sections Book, published in 1992. The following year, a second volume in the series, Stephen Biesty's Cross-Sections Man-of-War, proved equally interesting for late-elementary-age readers, especially those enchanted by seventeenth-century battleships. Alongside Biesty's cutaway illustrations, Platt provides explanatory text that indicates the purpose and activities in each section of the ship. The hardships of life aboard such vessels for their often 800-member crews are not overlooked, either, and the drawings depict food rations crawling with maggots and a doctor's pail containing severed limbs. Ellen Mandel, writing for Booklist, asserted that Platt's "intriguing text" serves to make "this meticulously presented book a treasure of factual content and visual imagery."
For Stephen Biesty's Incredible Everything, Platt provides informative paragraphs to accompany the illustrations for many everyday products, such as athletic shoes and compact discs. Much of the text revolves around the manufacturing process. Stephen Biesty's Incredible Body is a lesson in human anatomy, with sections on each of the body's systems and several major organs; the digestive system alone takes up four pages. Platt has also worked with the illustrator on Stephen Biesty's Cross-Sections Castle and Stephen Biesty's Incredible Explosions.
Working with publisher Dorling Kindersley, Platt has authored several titles in their "Eyewitness" series, some of which have appeared in the United States under the Knopf/Borzoi imprint. Pirate details the world of corsairs, privateers, and crime on the high seas throughout history. A reviewer for Science Books and Films, Richard B. Woodbury, praised the work as "a veritable miniencyclopedia or minimuseum" and "a pleasure to look at." Spy chronicles the history of espionage and the decisive role intelligence-gathering triumphs have played in history. Of particular emphasis are the code-breaking endeavors by Allied intelligence networks during World War II. Shipwreck, also part of the "Eyewitness" series, investigates famous sea disasters and rescues. Like the other books in the popular series, Shipwreck is lavishly illustrated. Chris Stephenson, writing in School Librarian, called it "an excellent source of historical evidence and nautical information."
Platt has also written several books about inventions. His The Smithsonian Visual Timeline of Inventions, which appeared in 1994, won praise from reviewers for its comprehensiveness. Platt divides the development of technology throughout the ages into five sections, including agriculture, conquest, and communication. The timeline begins at 600,000 BCE, around the time humans likely began using fire, and includes predictions for innovations that may occur in the near future. Cathryn A. Camper, reviewing The Smithsonian Visual Timeline of Inventions for School Library Journal, praised Platt's skilled use of illustration and text, which the critic felt "teaches a sophisticated form of literacy similar to" that provided with multimedia learning tools—an area in which Platt already had a great deal of writing experience. "Readers will delight in the colorful pictures and the text, which gives just enough information to satisfy curiosity," opined Voice of Youth Advo
Richard Platt is the author of more than sixty informative books for young readers, and he also writes for innovative multimedia projects. Some of his most popular works have been collaborations with illustrator Stephen Biesty on the "Cross-Sections" series. After a failed attempt to forge a career as a photographer, Platt discovered that he had a knack for writing. "I started writing about photography: first magazine articles, then books," he explained on the Walker Books Web site. "I got a job editing children's books, then went on to write them."
In the 1990s, Platt teamed up with popular juvenile illustrator Biesty for several books, beginning with Stephen Biesty's Incredible Cross-Sections Book, published in 1992. The following year, a second volume in the series, Stephen Biesty's Cross-Sections Man-of-War, proved equally interesting for late-elementary-age readers, especially those enchanted by seventeenth-century battleships. Alongside Biesty's cutaway illustrations, Platt provides explanatory text that indicates the purpose and activities in each section of the ship. The hardships of life aboard such vessels for their often 800-member crews are not overlooked, either, and the drawings depict food rations crawling with maggots and a doctor's pail containing severed limbs. Ellen Mandel, writing for Booklist, asserted that Platt's "intriguing text" serves to make "this meticulously presented book a treasure of factual content and visual imagery."
For Stephen Biesty's Incredible Everything, Platt provides informative paragraphs to accompany the illustrations for many everyday products, such as athletic shoes and compact discs. Much of the text revolves around the manufacturing process. Stephen Biesty's Incredible Body is a lesson in human anatomy, with sections on each of the body's systems and several major organs; the digestive system alone takes up four pages. Platt has also worked with the illustrator on Stephen Biesty's Cross-Sections Castle and Stephen Biesty's Incredible Explosions.
Working with publisher Dorling Kindersley, Platt has authored several titles in their "Eyewitness" series, some of which have appeared in the United States under the Knopf/Borzoi imprint. Pirate details the world of corsairs, privateers, and crime on the high seas throughout history. A reviewer for Science Books and Films, Richard B. Woodbury, praised the work as "a veritable miniencyclopedia or minimuseum" and "a pleasure to look at." Spy chronicles the history of espionage and the decisive role intelligence-gathering triumphs have played in history. Of particular emphasis are the code-breaking endeavors by Allied intelligence networks during World War II. Shipwreck, also part of the "Eyewitness" series, investigates famous sea disasters and rescues. Like the other books in the popular series, Shipwreck is lavishly illustrated. Chris Stephenson, writing in School Librarian, called it "an excellent source of historical evidence and nautical information."
Platt has also written several books about inventions. His The Smithsonian Visual Timeline of Inventions, which appeared in 1994, won praise from reviewers for its comprehensiveness. Platt divides the development of technology throughout the ages into five sections, including agriculture, conquest, and communication. The timeline begins at 600,000 BCE, around the time humans likely began using fire, and includes predictions for innovations that may occur in the near future. Cathryn A. Camper, reviewing The Smithsonian Visual Timeline of Inventions for School Library Journal, praised Platt's skilled use of illustration and text, which the critic felt "teaches a sophisticated form of literacy similar to" that provided with multimedia learning tools—an area in which Platt already had a great deal of writing experience. "Readers will delight in the colorful pictures and the text, which gives just enough information to satisfy curiosity," opined Voice of Youth Advo
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 26, 2017
Not bad, but of course quite dated now. I had a few minor discrepancies with some of the information given.
July 15, 2026
إنه كتاب من سلسلة "دي كي شاهد عيان"، لذا فهو يزخر بالصور كما هو متوقع. عند قراءته اليوم (وقد نُشر في الأصل عام 1992 وصدرت هذه الطبعة عام 2000)، يبدو الكتاب بمثابة كتاب "تاريخي" عن حقبة كانت فيها صناعة الأفلام عملية شاقة وتحتاج لحرفية، وكانت الأفلام نفسها أكثر ندرة وإثارة ومتعة، وتحظى بتقدير أكبر من قِبَل الجمهور. الكتاب يستعرض تاريخ السينما بدءاً من "الفانوس السحري" ووصولاً إلى الأفلام المعاصرة لتاريخ نشر الكتاب.
A DK Eyewitness book so tons of images as expected. Reading this today (originally published in 1992 and this edition from 2000) makes it a “historical” book about a time when movies were hard to make, rarer, more thrilling and entertaining and were appreciated more by audiences. The book goes back as far as magic lanterns all the way to contemporary movies when this book was published.
A DK Eyewitness book so tons of images as expected. Reading this today (originally published in 1992 and this edition from 2000) makes it a “historical” book about a time when movies were hard to make, rarer, more thrilling and entertaining and were appreciated more by audiences. The book goes back as far as magic lanterns all the way to contemporary movies when this book was published.
October 17, 2021
As a child I loved reading this book. I would go up to the attic and take it out of my mother's collection of books. Right now it's too outdated and with the knowledge I got right now because of my audiovisual education, its too basic. But I definitely recommend showing it to a child interested in film
February 21, 2020
Very in-depth look at the history and development of movies. Some of the additional information was a little chaotic to read, but interesting nonetheless. I did already know a lot of what was in here, but I also did learn a bit too!
November 20, 2019
I love DK books! Packed with facts and great photos, this book covers a great deal of information about filmmaking in only 60 pages. A good read!
February 8, 2016
OK I know these are supposed to be kid books but they are awesome! Great pictures and just enough text to make you want to learn more. Great choices for a beginning history reader or to start an older reader out in a new area. Every time I pick one of these up and read it I learn new things. Highly Recommended
June 18, 2012
Lots of small photos each with info next to it. Lots of pix and lots of info.
May 19, 2014
Lots of fun - like passing through a film museum, whiling away an hour or two - from the silent-film era to the present.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews