Elizabeth I: The People's Queen    by Kerrie Logan Hollihan Order:  USA  Can Chicago Review Press, 2011 (2011) Softcover     Reviewed by Bob Walch She was crowned queen at the age of 26 and during her 45 year reign Great Britain flourished. Queen Elizabeth's navy defeated the Spanish armada in 1588 and William Shakespeare was one of her loyal subjects. The daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth was removed from the royal line of succession after her mother was executed for treason by her father. As a young woman, Elizabeth was imprisoned in the Tower of London for suspected plotting against her sister, Mary Tudor, who had deposed Lady Jane Grey as the Queen. After Queen Mary's death, Elizabeth then took her seat on the throne as Queen Elizabeth I in 1559. 'Queen Elizabeth's very life was high drama,' writes Kerrie Logan Hollihan in the book's preface. 'Surrounding her was a cast of characters – kings, queens, lords, ladies, heroes, villains, gentlemen, gentlewomen, soldiers, sailors, and ordinary English folk. Like Shakespeare's actors, they made their entrances and exits as Elizabeth's drama unfolded.' Not only does the biography chronicle this fascinating woman's life but it also features 21 activities that create a hands-on experience that focus on life in the Elizabethan Era. Youngsters nine years of age and up will enjoy creating costumes for the queen's court, creating a 3-D map of an Elizabethan town, designing a family coat of arms, playing Nine Men's Morris and creating a knot garden. Lavishly illustrated, the volume also includes a helpful timeline and a list of resources for further study. History need not be a dry, stodgy subject. This series of books from the Chicago Review Press not only present all the important facts but also make them interesting and understandable. And, at the same time, the young reader is actively involved in the time period with some fun, hands-on activities. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews