Review by Booklist Review
Demi brings her unmistakable style to this pithy biography of the great Macedonian conquerer. Short paragraphs trace Alexander's childhood and then his series of increasingly magnificent military campaigns as he conquered his way from Greece through Persia and into Asia. Readers may wonder a bit about the disconnect between some of his exploits: after the Greeks rebelled and Alexander quickly crushed them by fighting and winning every battle, a couple pages later he freed the Greek cities under Persian control. While Alexander comes across as a fiercely dominant figure, slaughtering any who opposed him and destroying cultures left and right, the treatment here favors opulence over bloodshed. The delicately lined figures, highlighted in red and, of course, gold, float against dreamy watercolor backgrounds, and scenes of rows upon rows of soldiers lowering their massive spears to attack practically bristle with energy. A welcome, handsome introduction to history's most successful general, this picture book concludes with a dazzling, gilded map that traces the route he slashed through antiquity.--Chipman, Ian Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Demi's meticulous, expansive story highlights the achievements of Alexander the Great, who conquered much of the known world (to the Greeks) in only 12 years. One of the most successful military leaders in history, he captured Persia, Egypt, Afghanistan, and India, gathering riches and blending cultures. Illustrated with Demi's customary skill (her trademark gold accents are a natural fit with the armor and weaponry of the combating armies), Alexander's conflicts and victories will delight young history lovers with their daring. Ages 8-12. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-5-Another beautifully illustrated biography by the talented artist. Demi depicts the life of the great conqueror from his birth in 356 BCE to his death in 323 BCE. Her familiar and detailed style shows a segment from Alexander's life on every page. Using mixed media, she includes an abundance of red and gold inks to emphasize her subject's royal heritage. Framed scenes include Alexander as an infant with his parents, Queen Oympias and King Philip II; his tutoring by Aristotle; and his many battles across Persia, Asia Minor, and beyond. The text focuses on the facts and general time line of Alexander's life. There is not a lot of elaboration, but no matter. Students wishing for more depth or a different slant may be interested in Peter Chrisp's Alexander the Great: Legend of a Warrior King (DK, 2000) or Vicky Shecter's Alexander the Great Rocks the World (Darby Creek, 2006). Overall, this book is a stunning introduction to one of history's most-noted figures.-Roxanne Burg, Orange County Public Library, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Demi provides basic information about the life of Alexander the Great, from his boyhood and adolescent learning (Aristotle was his tutor), through his exploits as a leader and warrior, to his death surrounded by soldiers; some mythology (e.g., the oracle at Delphi: "You are invincible!") is also incorporated. The text is accompanied by vivid, lavish illustrations in Demi's recognizable style. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Flashy visuals and laudable depth of research aren't enough to rescue this poorly written account of Alexander's youth and reign. Culminating in a dazzling, full-spread map in gold and vivid blue, the art features Demi's signature tiny figures and intricately detailed architecture, usually seen floating in stylized isolation against generic empyrean depths. In the terse and far less memorable accompanying text, the phrasing isn't so graceful ("He easily took [Persepolis] with its palaces, ornate architecture, sculpture, paintings, and mosaics"; "One hundred officers married Persian nobles, many of them against their will"). Moreover, Alexandria and the oasis of Siwa are paired in a way that wrongly suggests they're in the same place, Alexander's meeting with Diogenes is compressed into a confusing jumble of ideas and some factual errors creep in: No, Alexander never "brought most of India under his control." More accurate, if not quite so grand, biographies of Alexander abound; consider this one only for Demi completists. (source note) (Picture book/biography. 8-10)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
