This book entices me to learn more about Marco Polo, and the Silk Road. A few years ago, I found a book written by an author who took a nasty trip into the world of pure herion, found along the Silk Road. It was a pretty scary book.

As the title notes, this is an informative book regarding Marco Polo and focuses on the places found and the animals and varied climates.

In 1271, Marco Polo took an amazing trip and traveled the Silk Road by horseback acompanyied by his father and uncle. The were traders of silk, and decided to learn more about the location where the goods were found. Leaving Italy and arriving in Cathay, modern-day China, and then deciding to travel beyond for information about the silk clothe business, and also their goal was to meet the great emperor of China, Kublai Khan.

As the description in the jacket cover notes, traveling through Eastern Europe, the Middle East, across Mt. Ararat, and into the Far East, the great explorer was amazed not only by the people he met, but also by the animals found along the way.

Great Asian Elephants and Persion lions were but a few they encountered. This lush book of illustrations is simply indescribable. And, filled with facts that were unknown to me, I read the book, and then immediately re-read it again. I did not know that to make silk, a specific moth caterpillar's cacoon is dipped into boiling water and then the threads are unwound. As the author notes, it takes 2,500 to 3,000 cacoons to net one yard of silk cloth.

When awar occurred, their orginal route was blocked and the new route took them to Uzbekistan. Meeting Kublai Khan was an incredible experience. And, there were dangers along the way when they were attacked in the strong dessert winds. Some of their party wre killed and goods were stolen, but fortunately, most escaped.

There were unique snow cats, oxen, giant colorful birds, Yaks, and sheep with horns and if uncurled would be 5 feet long.
When he returned, his world was forever expanded. As the book notes, upon return a battle between Venice and Genoa, Italy brough capture for them. While a captive, he and his men told the stories of where they were and what they found.

The is a stunning book, not only for the information enclosed, but also for the trials and travails found along the way.

Highly Recommended!!! ( )

2EIXTUEZ

There is a map - but it's not in any of the places I'd expect it so I was getting frustrated until I sought it out. Love the bright deep colors. The text reads smoothly and interestingly enough that even if a child reads it for an assignment he may enjoy it as much as if it were by choice.

Unfortunately, there's really not all that much information in it, in my estimation, except to a child just being introduced to the era of the Silk Road for the first time. That is to say, I thought I had a lot to learn about MP and Cathay etc. but I didn't learn anything noteworthy here.

Still, a very nice little book for the right audience. It could easily be enjoyed by children as young as 5 with support, and I would hope that by the time a child is 11 or so she's ready for something more in-depth than this. ( )

This non-fiction book gives readers insight about the animals that Marco Polo came across while traveling on the Silk Road. Polo was traveling on the Silk Road with his father and uncle learning about his family's business and to help fufuill a task for the emporer of China. Polo traveled through many countries and saw many different types of animals that he had never seen before. Some of the animals that Polo saw on his journey are now extinict or on the list of endangered species. I would read this to my class when discussing animals that are extinct or when talking about the Silk Road. ( )

ANIMALS MARCO POLO SAW by Sandra Markle is more of a biography than a book about animals Marco Polo saw. (She writes a series of explorer books with this premise.) It is however interesting and draws the reader into his amazing life. She does list books and websites that readers can explore to learn more about Marco Polo's life, the places and animals he saw. She provides an index as well as a glossary and map of his travels. There is no bibliography so it would be difficult from this text to realize the accuracy. There is detailed information and the pronunciation notations after many new words is quite helpful and helps precise language to be pronounced correctly. The index helps understanding. An animal is explained for each new area Marco Polo, his father and uncle travel, however it isn't the main focus. There is far more detail about his adventures than the actual animals, and often one reads, "He probably saw..." This would not necessarily be reflective of accuracy. It is the actual travels that are so amazing and draw the reader in. The story is told in chronological order so it is easy to follow. It is clearly written and has titles for each part of his adventure. It begins with an explanation of what it was like when Marco Polo was born and how people did not know about the entire world. It was through Marco Polo and his adventures that others began to learn more about the world and what it was like. It then follows from when and where he was born and his dreams to his travels to meet Kublai Khan and return to his country of Italy. It explains how as he told of his adventures in prison and how a fellow prisoner wrote them down and published later as THE DESCRIPTION OF THE WORLD.The illustrations add to the story. ( )