Reviews for Good Queen Bess: The Story of Elizabeth I of England

The average rating for Good Queen Bess: The Story of Elizabeth I of England based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2020-03-14 00:00:00 Edwin Cooper Wife-and-husband team Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema - whose other picture-book biographies include Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens: The Man who had Great Expectations - here tell the story of England's Queen Elizabeth I, for whom the 'Elizabethan Age' was named. From her father, King Henry VIII, and his pursuit (through six wives) of a son, to Elizabeth's own girlhood, her accession to the throne, and her long reign, Good Queen Bess covers the major events and ideas of its subject's life and times, introducing complex topics - religious conflict between Protestants and Catholics, issues of succession - in a straightforward, easy-to-understand way. Although an excellent biography for young readers, I do have to agree with those who have said that this is not - despite being a picture-book - a title that would be appropriate for very young children. It's too text heavy for that, with concepts that are a little too involved, and would be better aimed at children who are independent readers. Those children for whom it is well suited, however, are really in for a treat! With a fascinating topic, and gorgeous goauche illustrations (I really prefer the cover of the edition I read, with its decorative border, to the reissued edition, which simply has Elizabeth's face on a deep maroon background), Good Queen Bess is simply a fabulous children's biography!

Review # 2 was written on 2019-03-24 00:00:00 Daniel Fayfar Our family read-aloud in honour of Queen Elizabeth I who died this day, March 24, 1603.