An illustrated description of walls around the world and their significance, from the Great Wall of China to the Berlin Wall.

Talking walls tells the story of famous walls around the world. The books illustrations are two page spreads that show the wall that is being described on those two pages. Facts about each wall are described. The Great Wall of China, The Western Wall, Great Zimbabwe , The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and Nelson Mandela's Prison Walls are just some of the alls explained in the book. The book teaches about all the different walls around the world; how old they are, why they were created, what they stand for and more. This book is very informative and very interesting. ( )

Great glimpse of different pieces of history and world culture, is there a standards connection? Was 3-5 old standards. 2nd grade H1.a standard.

Author Margy Burn Knight and illustrator Anne Sibley O'Brien - who also worked together on Who Belongs Here?: An American Story, as well as the sequel to this one, Talking Walls: The Stories Continue - present the stories of fourteen walls in this picture-book tour of the world's peoples and cultures. From walls that divide (the Berlin Wall, the walls of Nelson Mandela's prison) to walls that remember (the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, the Aboriginal rock wall, with paintings from as long ago as 30,000 years), the walls depicted here serve many purposes, and have many meanings, but in the end, the are all a record of human activity, of one kind or another.

Talking Walls is an engaging introduction to some of the diverse peoples of the world, organized around a theme that I would not have thought to use, myself. I appreciated each story, and the additional notes at the rear, although I did find myself wishing (just a little bit) that the stone walls of New England, which appear on the front endpapers, would have been explored as well. But then, I grew up around those kind of walls. Still, that's a minor (and very personal) quibble, and in no way detracts from the over-all excellence of this title! ( )

Beautiful illustrations, excellent information for a wide range of grades. Good "kicking off" book for studies in monuments, historical landmarks. ( )