HBJHIP8N

Inspired by the Book of Hours tradition, but focusing on the monthly chores of tenant farmers while leaving out the daily Church feast days and saints' days. Manson's illustrations are whimsically reminiscent of woodcuts, but in full colour, and like illuminated manuscripts there are jokes and details to be found in addition to the main illustration. Nikola-Lisa gives each month a rhyming couplet to highlight the peasant work of the season:

Sheep are herded to wash and shear,
While swarming bees buzz ever near.

Each month has a double-spread picture, a paragraph giving additional detail on the tasks and aspects of daily life. An understated theme is the authority of the gentry and how much of a peasant's time, effort, and resources are expended on his master's chores before devoting any attention to his own family's. ( )

"Till Year's Good End" is a book about a peasant's life during the middle ages. It takes you month by month on what they would do for work during that time. For example, in February the peasant remain indoors the majority of the time, but there was still work to be done. They would repair hunting nets, fashion leather harnesses, and sharpen knives and axes. These peasant would also work for their bosses or lords before working for themselves, so it was twice the work. This book was very informative about the labors of peasants in the middle ages, but also very boring in my opinion. It brought you into the shoes of peasants, but I think it could of been better if they would of focused on just one and talked about his or her story. ( )

This is a beautifully illustrated book based upon the idea of the book of hours that was popular with the wealthy during the middle ages. It spans a calendar year and illustrates what the peasants had to accomplish at any given time during the year. Each month begins with a couplet giving the over view of tasks, and it is followed up with informative passages that provide greater detail of the daily routines and labors of the peasants. A particularly notable feature of the book is that the illustration clearly is meant to mimic the woodcuts that print makers would have traditionally used to illustrate books. While the vocabulary used is not particularly complex, the amount of information provided makes the book better suited to 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders as it is more likely that units in those social studies curriculums would be looking at this period of time. It is particularly notable that the author provides not just an explanation of activities, but also makes use of correct terminology such as "croft" and "Lammas" which allow students to develop a greater picture of this point in history. ( )

Follow a Middle Ages community through a year, month-by-month, as they complete the chores necessary for survival. Some activities may be familiar, such as cutting firewood in the winter, while others may seem distant, such as basket making. The illustrations are bold and vibrant. (Gardeners will admire the weed free gardens.) Enjoyable for readers of all ages, this book provides an opportunity to reflect on the activities of the year both current and historical. ( )