Seven Wonders of Ancient Asia

by Michael Woods, Mary B. Woods

Describes seven monumental ancient Asian architectural sites that still exist today, including the Great Wall of China, Angkor Wat, and Borobudur Temple.

Genres: Nonfiction

80 pages, Library Binding

First published September 1, 2008

Reviews

[Jerry Jares · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is written for young adults and all of the lavish photos are in color. The wonders introduced are the Great Wall of China, Mahabodhi Temple in India, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Todaiji Temple in Japan, Pha That Luang in Laos, Borobudur Temple on Java in Indonesia, and the Banaue Rice Terraces of the Philippines.

Other than the Great Wall of China, these are significant places that are not often mentioned in school texts. The authors write in a highly readable style, giving meanings of unusual words right in the text. At the end, there is a glossary and pronunciation guide and an informative timeline. I was particularly interested in UNESCO's (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) interest in these sites. It is fortunate that an organization with money and clout can assist some of these small countries in preserving their heritage.

This is a beautiful book with excellent photos and interesting text. The layout is attractive, yet it covers the subjects succinctly.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This handy reference book is definitely geared to youth, but I loved its concise manner of explaining Buddhism's origins and how it is reflected in art/architecture. A couple of years ago, I was fascinated by the "New 7 Wonders of the World" campaign (The Great Wall of China is one)and I would like to explore the other books in this series.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

After scouring Barnes and Noble shelves and discovering they no longer carry much in the way of informational books for children, I found this one at the Bank Street library. I imagine the more-wonderful branches of the public library will have it as well. It was a hit with the 8th grader I tutor and helped him find some facts for his research report on the Great Wall of China.