Step into the world of the ancient Kingdom of Benin and explore its captivating history, culture and legacy with Blue Peter Award winning author David Long.
Under the rule of the Oba, the Kingdom of Benin was one of the richest and most powerful in West Africa. Behind a network of massive walls, its vibrant capital city boasted the Oba's impressive palace, filled with intricate artworks, while the Edo people worked as skilled artisans, formidable hunters and talented traders. Yet as European influence began to grow, so did the challenges that faced the Benin kingdom.
From the omnipotent power of their warrior-kings to the devastating impact of the slave trade, David Long unearths the remarkable stories of daily life, trade, and the unique culture of the Edo people.
Reviews
"An expert in distilling complex stories from the past into an informative and entertaining format for young readers, Long skilfully explains everything about this land of warrior kings in a fact-packed and accessible introduction to a famous ancient civilisation … With all the intriguing facts about the people and their world brought to vivid life by Stefano Tambellini’s rich artwork, and published in Barrington Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format, this is a top class series from a dynamic writing and illustration duo." – Burnley Express
"For schools that teach topics on Benin, this is an absolute must-have to complement the learning but this will also be enjoyed by anyone in Year 4 upwards who is interested in history, in class or at home, and with its short chapters and plentiful illustrations will be accessible to many." — Mrs Sydney's Famous World's Smallest Library, blog
About the author
David Long is a journalist and author of non-fiction for both adults and children. A writer since leaving university, his work has appeared in the Sunday Times and London’s Evening Standard. His engaging non-fiction reflects his unquenchable thirst for fascinating stories from the past, and in 2017 his book Survivors won the Blue Peter Award for the best book with facts.
