Title: Marco Polo
Author: Charles P. Graves
Series: Junior World Explorers
Major Themes: Marco Polo, Kublai Khan, Exploration, Middle Ages, China
Synopsis: Marco Polo’s explorations are brought to vivid life for young readers.
We have had Charles P. Graves’ Marco Polo on our shelf for over 15 years now. Several of the children have read it as a reader, but now, for the first time, I read it aloud to the younger ones. We just reached the section of our history of the Middle Ages that talks about the famous explorer, and when I sent one of the children to the biography section of our home library, he found two books to go along with our study—this one and one by Olive Price, which I read years ago. They want to hear that one read aloud again, too, so we’ll read it next. Marco Polo was a fascinating man, and his story never gets old.
Publisher’s description:
While Marco Polo was growing up in Venice, his father and uncle were traveling in China, at that time a mysterious and almost unexplored land. They did not come home until he was 15, and they had promised the powerful Kublai Khan that they would soon return to China. When Marco heard their stories of China and the Khan, he begged to go with them. Two years later they began the long and hazardous journey.
In 1271 they set off through the Holy Land and the Gobi Desert to reach China. Marco took notes on all the things he saw. Kublai Khan was so impressed by Marco’s intelligence and keen observation that he hired Marco to work for him. Marco traveled widely in China and had many adventures. He loved his job, but eventually, he and his father and uncle wished to return to Venice.
The Polo family returned with a fortune, and Marco began to settle down. In the war between Venice and Genoa, Marco was imprisoned. He told his story to a writer who turned it into a book. The Travels of Marco Polo was read by many people. Mapmakers and explorers used the book. It also inspired Christopher Columbus to try to reach Asia by sea—a journey that led him to discover America.
My thoughts:
I really enjoyed reading Marco Polo. Charles P. Graves has done a great job of making the old story come to life. Each short chapter kept our interest, and even my 4-year-old loved studying the pictures sprinkled throughout the book. Though this is written for children who need short chapter books, we all enjoyed the engaging story.
WARNING: Chapter 9: A traitor is shaken to death.
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 5 – 8, 8 – 12
Reading Independently—Ages 7 – 9, 8 – 12
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Library Binding
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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