  | Royal Ride : Catherine the Great's great invention Author: Fulton, Kristen | |
| Price: $23.08 | ||
Summary:
Join Catherine the Great on a fun-filled ride as she schemes to invent the roller coaster.
| Illustrator: | Fleming, Lucy |
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: LG Reading Level: 3.60 Points: .5 Quiz: 509918 |
Reviews:
School Library Journal (00/08/19)
Booklist (07/01/19)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 07/01/2019 In many languages, the word for roller-coaster translates as “Russian mountains,” a tribute to Catherine the Great, the Russian empress credited with its invention. A great fan of ice slides—down which she and her subjects would ride during their long winters—Catherine “called her royal builders and made a most royal request.” She wanted to be able to enjoy her favorite diversion year-round. Working from her initial idea, they brainstormed, experimented, and finally produced a wooden, jewel-encrusted downhill thrill ride that would work in the warmer months. Fleming’s fanciful Photoshop illustrations depict youthful, cartoon-style characters, cats in sweaters, and a St. Basil’s Cathedral plonked in the middle of rolling green fields. While not necessarily a literal rendering of the era, this is certainly a fun romp through the early history of a modern favorite (or feared) activity. Back matter includes a time line, bibliography, and an author’s note telling how Catherine’s original prototype continued to evolve into the familiar montagnes russes of today. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 08/02/2019 PreS-Gr 3-Russian ice slides originated in the 1400s but prospered each winter as a fun form of entertainment for the country's citizens. Each spring, when the slides melted, Catherine the Great was very dismayed, so she decided to work with Russian engineers to build a slide that would last year-round. When it was finally completed, they had built the first-ever roller coaster that was 40 feet high with a bejeweled carriage. The author explains how Catherine created the Hermitage Museum, went to war, wrote a book, started the first school for girls, and so much more. The book also contains a time line and list of how roller coaster is pronounced in different languages. The illustrations are cutesy and modern with a whimsical feel. VERDICT Although this book is illustrated to catch the eye of younger readers, it contains a lot of information. A surprisingly jam-packed and fun work of nonfiction.-Maeve Dodds, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, NC - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
