From the Good Mountain: How Gutenberg Changed the World
by James Rumford
Roaring Brook Press, 2012
ISBN: 9781596435421
Grades 3 and up
The reviewer borrowed a copy of the book from her school library.
Many teachers and librarians like to kick off the school year by reading aloud books about books and libraries. Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates, Wild About Books by Judy Sierra and Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen are popular back to school reads.
How about starting the year with a nonfiction read aloud about books?
From the Good Mountain: How Guttenberg Changed the World is an interesting narrative, nonfiction picture book about how the printing press had a profound impact on the world.
James Rumford describes the process of making a book from paper, leather, gold leaf, ink and printing press. Each two-page spread is designed with the text printed on a book page on the left side and an illustration on the right side. The book's illuminated pages and pen & ink and watercolor illustrations effectively reflect the 1400s time period. A sample of one of Guttenberg's printed Bible pages is incorporated into the page about bookbinding. Readers will be drawn into the story with the question and answer format on each page and the interesting captions that are printed on scrolls in the margins.
Be sure to read the "Epilogue" which contains more information about Johannes Guttenberg and the printing process.
Pair From the Good Mountain with Noah Webster and His Words by Jerri Chase Ferris.
This sounds like a great book! Thanks for reviewing it!
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