My Holiday Gift Ideas
This time I get to speak up. You still have time to run out to the bookstores for Hanukkah (well, not much time) and for Christmas, of course. These are some thoughts for the kiddies (but actually, I like them, too!)
Here's a pretty nifty book full of artsy projects for the budding knight or dame. Literally, some Hands-On History. Fun.
Quite the "illuminating" experience. You, too, can imagine yourself a monk in a chilly old carrel, painting in a manuscript. Except this time you can use crayons! Neat black and white line drawings of famous and not-so-famous manuscripts.
From School Library Journal: "Simple but well-done basic historical information provides better-than-average insight into social forces that moved societies from the medieval era to the Renaissance and into later periods of unrest and revolt. In both books, two-page sections introduce facets of everyday life and culture, social structure, government, and factors that led to change. Colorful, eye-pleasing illustrations, reproductions of period artwork, maps, and cutaways of buildings, plus large print result in an attractive, easy-to-read format."
For the fashion doyens. Line art to color. Shows very well the details in medieval clothing and armour.
Get out your grey crayons. Intricate drawings are fascinating in and of themselves. No need to add color but why not? Things were a lot more colorful in the Middle Ages than our Victorican ancestors would have liked us to believe.
Might have shown this one to you last year, but it's still worth a look-see. Again, detailed illustrations of daily life. Well done.
Now, how about a little mood music. We have several selections of medieval Christmas fare, or at least medieval-sounding Christmas fare.
With such composers as Hildegard von Bingem and Alfonso X, this will get your Yule log burning.
The Anonymous 4 does it again with On Yoolis Night. You can trust this group to perform well and in character.
And now for something completely different. If you are a bit weary of the regular Christmas music and long for something a bit...well...creepier (think Ghosts of Christmas Past and Yet to Come) this is the album for you. Christmas, medieval, but then some.
