Morley, Jacqueline. 2006. You wouldn't want to work on the Great Wall of China: defenses you'd rather not build! Ill. by David Antram. New York: Scholastic.

recommended for: upper elementary, early middle school grades

I really enjoyed my first experience with the series of "You wouldn't want to ..." books. This one provides intriguing information about the Great Wall of China from the perspective of a Chinese peon alive at the time of the building of the Wall and of his experience being pressed into service for the Emperor's construction. Amazing facts and details are shared -- such as the purpose of the Wall (not just to be a Wonder of the World), a sense of the size and distance covered by the edifice, and a clear sense of context in which the work was done.

No genre of children's literature has seen as many changes as the non-fiction or information books. This series, and this title in particular, give clear examples of the attributes of better non-fiction writing. The book is marked by an attractive design that is visually appealing to younger readers. Written from the unique perspective of someone involved in the hard work of the Wall, compelling details make the difference between "showing" and "telling" of the information. There is a wide variety in the information provided here -- nothing I have encountered before. And amazing little-known facts keep the reader engaged and moving forward to discover more!

After my experience with this title in the series, I have sought out several more that I want to share with my students. I believe this unique approach to information will have all of us visiting the Non-Fiction section of the library frequently!

Key words: Great Wall of China, empressment, Chinese dynasty, battle defenses

.