Talking Walls

I found a lesson for social studies that used this book, so I bought it. It got the students intersted in the lesson and they really enjoyed the pictures.

"People all over the world have been using and building walls for thousands of years. These walls tell many fascinating stories." Margy Burns Knight tells 14 of these fascinating stories in Talking Walls. Beginning with The Great Wall of China, Margy Burns Knight takes us all over the world and gives us insight into many different cultures. Each wall is featured in a two-page spread with beautiful illustrations by Anne Sibley O'Brien. The stories of the walls themselves never exceed three paragraphs, so you won't get bored reading a lot of details and facts about the walls and different cultures. Instead, you'll get just enough information to learn about the wall, the history behind it, and the people who built it. We also learn how walls can bring us together or keep us apart. Throw in a little folklore and you've got a fascinating book that is sure to spark a lot of conversation with your kids.

This might be the best introduction to social studies that elementary schools can get. It is a colurful, interesting book with young characters who will introduce your students to all kinds of walls and cultures around the world. An absolute must for the classroom because of its information, an absolute must for home because of its beauty and value in a home-education without too much school-like text.

This is an excellent book for children of all ages. Fantastic if you are looking for a multicultural book for your child or classroom. I have in fact found several sites on the internet ( one of the sites is that of the publisher Tillbury House)which give address and phone numbers for hundreds of lessonplans for teachers. A book that no elementary classroom should be without. There is actually a sequel call "Talking Walls:The Stories Continue" which I have not gotton my hands on yet.