Elizabeth I: The Outcast Who Became England's Queen

This is a lovely little book which I recommend in hardback. About 63 pages of full color, glossy photos, each page contains a chronological outline at the bottom, showing the trends in history and the princess who became Queen. The story of Elizabeth I is actually a miraculous account, beginning with the marriage of her parents (King Henry the VIII and Anne Boleyn.) Written in very simple, up-front terms which any person over the age of 10 could understand, some of the topic matter is sensitive. It does address the concerns of Elizabeth's legitimacy, trends in the Catholic Church and Reformation, and how Elizabeth survived. Elizabeth actually succeeded her two siblings - a younger brother who was made King, but who did not live very long, and her sister, also Queen, "Bloody Mary". By the time Elizabeth ascended to the throne, she had learned much from the painful mistakes of her siblings. She ruled Britain and Ireland for 44 years, from 1559 to 1603. This book is a basic must-read for any student of the Queen.