What Was It Like, Mr. Emperor? {Book Review}

What Was It Like, Mr. Emperor? {Book Review}

As we study world history, it can be fun to find resources other than standard history books to get a better understanding of countries around the world. In the book, What Was It Like, Mr. Emperor?, we get to listen to the emperor answer questions ranging from education, palace life, family structures and more.

Have you ever wondered what it was like to be the Emperor of China? In this book, readers will get the chance to ask the emperor all the questions they might have about life in the Forbidden City. How was the emperor chosen? What was school like? How did he celebrate his birthday? Who were his friends? What were his favorite foods? How hard did he have to work? Could he be punished?

Through fun and engaging stories reader will journey through the average life of an emperor and learn about the people who lived in the palace, including the prince who fought off a rebel invasion, the palace maids who lived in the Inner Court, the emperor who ruled twice, and the emperor who loved crickets. This book can be enjoyed by children and adults alike, with lively illustrations that encourage reader interaction.

The illustrations were wonderful through the book. I thought they fit well with the topic on the page we were reading about.

Each page covered something different, such as how much for allowance the different prince or princesses received on various days through their life, or how long the prince would attend school for and the subjects he would take!

While it’s meant for children, I also felt like I learned new things as well! This was a wonderful insight into a part of Chinese history without the boring and sometimes dry presentations in textbooks. This kept all of us entertained while we were learning, and even prompted more questions that the kids could research on their own such as government, geography, food, and more!

I think this is a great book for an international study or as an introduction to Chinese history, especially when you’re dealing with younger students. What Was It Like, Mr. Emperor? can be purchased at Amazon to add to your bookshelf today.

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