The Magnificent Mughals of India. Shah Jahan, ruler of India, murdered three of his brothers in his bloody rise to power. Yet when his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, suddenly died, the grief-stricken emperor built the world's most beautiful tomb as a monument to her memory. Shah Jahan was the fifth emperor of the Mughal dynasty. The Mughals combined the brute force and fierce ambition of their legendary ancestor Genghis Khan with a delicate artistic sensitivity. Theirs was a world where even forts were architectural gems, where emperors had their life stories told in exquisite miniature paintings, and where each new ruler competed with the previous one by building a grander palace, fort, mosque and city. The Taj Mahal tells the story of this remarkable dynasty through its greatest artistic achievement. From the soaring domes, to the marble columns inlaid with precious gems, to the vast gardens, to the perfect symmetry of its design, the Taj Mahal expressed the power, grandeur, glory and beauty of the Mughal world. Grade 5–8—This installment in the series begins with a two-page retelling of the love story between Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. After her death, the emperor wanted to create a monument to their enduring love and left the world the iconic building that also became a symbol of the period of Mughal reign in India. The blueprints followed the classic Persian charbagh design of quadrilateral garden squares divided by walkways, but Shah Jahan's architectural choices also incorporated Central Asian and Indian influences. Over several pages, the author explains the practical challenges that builders had to overcome during the long construction process, such as protecting the complex from the annual monsoon swelling of the nearby Yamuna River. A double foldout gives an impressive aerial view of the entire complex. Captioned photographs of artifacts and original paintings enhance the well-written text. Beautiful full-page illustrations in the detailed style of Mughal miniature paintings depict scenes of the construction process. A list of important historical dates and dimensions of the building are included. A beautiful book that highlights a stunning accomplishment in architecture.— Monika Schroeder, American Embassy School, New Delhi, India Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. *Starred Review* The ongoing Wonders of the World series hits a high point with this dramatic retelling of the construction of the Taj Mahal. Mann begins with two pages of prose that relay the commonly told legend, but then proceeds to explode that legend with descriptive writing, colorful illustrations, ancient paintings, maps, and photographs. Some readers may hesitate over the density of the first few pages, but the information is quickly broken up by portraits introducing the major players—most notably Shah Jahan, the Mughal leader who combines his adoration of opulence and his grief over the death of his beloved, Mumtaz Mahal, to create one of the most recognizable structures in history. Startling details abound: Shah Jahan’s founding of an entire city to house all the necessary nobles, the irrigation system keeping flood waters from Mumtaz Mahal’s tomb, and the shocking decapitation that brings about the next ruler. The photos of priceless relics bring the story alive, and young readers will love the fold-out Taj Mahal diagram, which resembles a game board. Shah Jahan’s excesses helped bring about the demise of the Mughal Empire, and this insightful book will bring readers closer to understanding the meaning of what has been left behind. Grades 3-6. --Daniel Kraus Elizabeth Mann has produced another outstanding offering in her Wonders of the World series... Opulent illustrations by Alan Witschonke supplement the text. A double-page foldout containing the floor plan of the entire Taj Mahal shows the enormity of the architectural feat. Timeline, Taj Mahal facts, glossary, and bibliography are included. (Mary Melaugh Youth Services Book Review 2009-02-25) The ongoing Wonders of the World series hits a high point with this dramatic retelling of the construction of the Taj Mahal. Mann begins with two pages of prose that relay the commonly told legend, but then proceeds to explode that legend with descriptive writing, colorful illustrations, ancient paintings, maps, and photographs.... Startling details abound... the photos of priceless relics bring the story alive, and young readers will love the fold-out Taj Mahal diagram, which resembles a game board.... Shah Jahan's excesses helped bring about the demise of the Mughal Empire, and this insightful book will bring readers closer to understanding the meaning of what has been left behind. (Daniel Kraus Booklist 2008-11-15) Elizabeth Mann is the author of 11 Wonders of the World books, cited by Booklist as one of the ten best series for young readers. Alan Witschonke has illustrated f