This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
With a background as a teacher, librarian, and content creator, Barbara Hall brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for Asian history, culture, and traditions to her work. Having traveled and worked extensively in Asia, she aims to spark curiosity in readers of all ages, offering engaging stories and insights into the rich heritage of the region.
Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
Ancient Chinese Inventions That Changed the World, written and illustrated in full color by Barbara Hall, is a children's mid-grade book that shares many of the groundbreaking innovations that came out of ancient China and transformed various aspects of life. These include things like gunpowder, discovered by alchemists and later adapted for warfare, and paper, invented by Cai Lun over 2,000 years ago, replacing the more costly bamboo and silk. Hall teaches readers about woodblock printing, which allowed for the mass production of books, and the compass, created from a lodestone, to guide explorers. Each of these inventions, and many more that Hall showcases, have played a crucial role in shaping global trade, communication, travel, art, and technology, demonstrating the far-reaching influence of ancient Chinese discoveries.
Ancient Chinese Inventions That Changed the World by Barbara Hall is an interesting look at some of the groundbreaking inventions that shaped history. Through clear, straightforward writing, Hall explains what the invention is and how it came to be. My younger reader was most fascinated by the rockets and had all kinds of follow-up questions once we finished the book. I think any time a child has their curiosity sparked and this leads to further research, it's a win. The illustrations move between a contemporary computer animation feel and classic 90s cartoons. Still, they are colorful and eye-catching, and it's always supremely impressive when an author is also a visual artist. As an Asian family, the positive reinforcement of culture is a big deal for us. Overall, this is a wonderfully rich history lesson and an appreciation of ingenuity, and I enjoyed it as much as my child. Recommended.
