Books in Castles of the World series

The opulent Palace of Versailles became the official royal residence of French monarchs during the reign of King Louis XIV. With 551,112 square feet (51,200 square meters) of floor space, rooms filled with gilded furniture, and more than 7,000 works of art, the Palace of Versailles showcases the luxurious lifestyles of the kings of France. Explore the facility, history, people, and science behind the building in Palace of Versailles, a Castles of the World book.

Buckingham Palace, in London, England, is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II. Located within a short distance of Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, and other iconic London landmarks, the lavish Buckingham Palace stands as a monument to the proud history of the British royal family. Explore the facility, history, people, and science behind the building in Buckingham Palace, a Castles of the World book.

Built in the 19th century as a private retreat for King Ludwig II of Bavaria, Neuschwanstein Castle harkens back to the German myths and legends that inspired its design. Its fairy-tale appearance attracts more than 1.4 million visitors every year. Explore the facility, history, people, and science behind the building in Neuschwanstein Castle, a Castles of the World book.

Through the voice of a young girl, the life of the people known as Irish Travelers is explored. Megan spends her summers traveling around the Irish countryside with her family. They move from place to place, hauling their camper behind their old car. But they aren't on vacation. This is their way of life. Megan and her family are Travelers. As part of their summer life, Megan's father works odd jobs, from fieldwork to roofing houses. Despite the rough living, Megan loves her life and the freedom that comes from traveling the open road. But at summer's end, when there's no more work to be had, the family moves to the city of Dublin. The camper is parked and they move into a cramped house. Megan and her siblings attend the local school as their parents struggle to make ends meet. And as the seasons pass, Megan counts down the days until she can return to her summer life. Gloria Whelan's other books in the Tales of the World series are Waiting for the Owl's Call, Yuki and the One Thousand Carriers (2008 Society of Illustrators Gold Medal winner), and Yatandou (a Junior Library Guild selection). Ms. Whelan lives in Michigan. Beth Peck earned a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and has illustrated many books for children, including A Christmas Memory, Just Like Josh Gibson, and Music for the End of Time. Ms. Peck lives in Menomonie, Wisconsin.

Built in the 19th century as a private retreat for King Ludwig II of Bavaria, Neuschwanstein Castle harkens back to the German myths and legends that inspired its design. Its fairy-tale appearance attracts more than 1.4 million visitors every year. Explore the facility, history, people, and science behind the building in Neuschwanstein Castle, a Castles of the World book.

Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Biltmore House boasts the title of Americas largest private residence. Built more than 100 years ago by George Washington Vanderbilt, Biltmore House stands as a lasting legacy of the Gilded Age of American history. Explore the facility, history, people, and science behind the building in Biltmore House, a Castles of the World book.

Buckingham Palace, in London, England, is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II. Located within a short distance of Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, and other iconic London landmarks, the lavish Buckingham Palace stands as a monument to the proud history of the British royal family. Explore the facility, history, people, and science behind the building in Buckingham Palace, a Castles of the World book.

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Japanese provincial governors had to travel between the cities of Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo). This 300+ mile journey on the historic Tokaido Road required the presence of one to three thousand attendants (carriers). Yuki's father has been called to Edo and she, along with her mother and pet dog, must accompany him in this royal procession. Yuki does not want to go. She will miss her home and her teacher. But she must not be disrespectful so Yuki captures her thoughts in haiku, a Japanese form of poetry. Once outside the gate How will I find my way back? Will home disappear? Inspired by the woodcuts of Japanese printmaker, Hiroshige, award-winning author Gloria Whelan brings a cultural event to life through the observant eyes and thoughtful verses of a young Japanese girl. Gloria Whelan's many award-winning books include Homeless Bird for which she received the National Book Award. Her work with Sleeping Bear Press includes Yatandou and Mackinac Bridge: The Five-Mile Poem (a 2007 Michigan Notable Book). Ms. Whelan lives in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan. Yan Nascimbene studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York and at the University of California at Davis. His work has appeared in numerous publications including TIME. He has illustrated over 50 books, including Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog. Yan twice received the Society of Illustrators' Silver Medal and many other awards. He lives in Provence, in the village of Cotignac.

Eduardo and his family live in a small town in Ecuador, not far from the Amazon rainforest. The rainforest is an important part of their lives. Each month Eduardo and his father travel by river from their town to the rainforest. There, using just a basket and a machete, they gather Brazil nuts. They are castañeros and this is how they earn their living. But the rainforest is not only important to the castañeros; it is home to many exotic species of plants, birds, and mammals, including two playful tamarins that Eduardo has named Tuki and Moka. So although it is difficult work being a castañero, Eduardo looks forward to his visits to the rainforest so he can play with his two friends. But one night, the peace of the forest is threatened by poachers, animal traffickers who illegally capture and then try to sell some of the birds and animals. Can Eduardo save his friends?

La Bonne Vache (The Good Cow) is a little restaurant in the south of France. It takes its name from and is famous for its boeuf à la mode, a delicious beef stew. Ten-year-old Pierre longs to follow in the culinary footsteps of his father, Monsieur Valcourt. Monsieur Valcourt is the chef and owner of La Bonne Vache. Pierre spends as much time as possible in the restaurant's kitchen, hoping for a chance to demonstrate his cooking skills. But his parents shoo him away and he is not allowed to cook. One day Pierre meets a visitor who is on his way to eat at the restaurant. This is no ordinary visitor but an important food critic. His experience at La Bonne Vache could bring great honor to the restaurant. At last, Pierre sees his chance to prove himself. Award-winning author Gloria Whelan received the National Book Award for her young adult novel, Homeless Bird. Her books with Sleeping Bear Press include The Listeners, Friend on Freedom River, and Jam and Jelly with Holly and Nellie. She lives in Michigan.

Elena lives near a small town in western Guatemala. She lives there with her mother, her younger brother, Luis, and her baby sister, Ana. Her father is far away, working on a plantation. Elena struggles to keep up in school. Her teacher says she needs to practice her reading, but it's hard to find time to read. She must help her mother with the cooking and housework, as well as the hard work of planting and weeding their garden. As the big sister Elena is also in charge of watching over Luis to keep him out of mischief. It isn't always easy and she gets impatient with her little brother. But at the end of the day, when Elena shares a book with Luis, carefully sounding out the words, she comes to better understand and appreciate her role in the family.

Eight-year-old Zulviya, her sister and her cousin, her mother and her grandmother... they all belong to the loom. For generations the women of Zulviya's family have earned their living by weaving rugs by hand. The rugs are valuable and the women are proud of their beautiful handiwork. But the work is hard. It takes months to weave a rug; each one contains hundreds of thousands of knots. Before one work day has passed, Zulviya will tie thousands of knots. As she sits at her work, Zulviya weaves not one but two patterns. The pattern on the loom will become a fine rug. She weaves a second pattern in her mind. There she sees the green of the Afghani hills, the bright blue of the nearby lake, and the vivid orange of the setting sun. And Zulviya takes comfort in the landscape in her mind. Gloria Whelan's other picture books in the Tales of the World series are Yuki and the One Thousand Carriers (2008 Society of Illustrators Gold Medal winner) and Yatandou (a Junior Library Guild selection). Ms. Whelan lives in Michigan. Pascal Milelli's illustration clients include Harper's, The Atlantic, and Scribner Books. His picture book, The Art Room, by Susan Vande Griek, received the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award from the Canadian Library Association in 2003. Pascal lives in Vancouver, Canada.