Who Was Queen Elizabeth I?

Who Was . . . ? Series

by June Eding

Our bestselling series is fit for a queen! The life of Queen Elizabeth I was dramatic and cast out of her father's court at the age of three and imprisoned at nineteen, Elizabeth was crowned queen in 1558, when she was only twenty-five. A tough, intelligent woman who spoke five languages, Elizabeth ruled for over forty years and led England through one of its most prosperous periods in history. Over 80 illustrations bring 'Gloriana' and her court to life.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Childrens, Middle Grade, Tudor Period, Historical

103 pages, Paperback

First published July 3, 2008

About the author

June Eding lives in New York, New York.

Reviews

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy when Cate devoured all of these Who Is/Who Was books back in 2nd grade but I never actually read one myself. They are really fun to read as an adult and I will consider reading more. They do a great job presenting all of the relevant information and the illustrations are awesome too!

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Queen Elizabeth showed the world that women could rule and rule well.

[Eileen McDaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my what a woman! Queen Elizabeth I!

[Pumkin pie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, loved it!! Loved the facts and it was SO interesting! I couldn't put it down!

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 1 out of 5]

Made it to page 57, and the chapter on Mary Queen of Scots is such utter bullshit I will not subject my child to it. Although I do appreciate that the author called Elizabeth out for having the nerve to pretend she was upset after Mary was executed and saying that Elizabeth blamed others instead of taking responsibility because that part is 100% true.

[Fiona Corbett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of information useful for essays or learning about Queen Elizabeth the first in school or just in general couple hard words but very good like I said very informational goes in depth and words that they think you won't be able to say they will put these little pronunciations.

[Emma Pooler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quick and informative read! Great if you or your child is starting off! Easy to read and very fun with beautiful illustrations!

[PrincessLhala · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "Who Was Queen Elizabeth I?", June Eding presents a captivating and accessible exploration of one of history's most iconic monarchs. This biography is part of the popular "Who Was?" series, aimed at introducing young readers to significant historical figures.

Eding effectively combines engaging storytelling with educational content, making the life of Queen Elizabeth I both relatable and fascinating. The book covers her early life, rise to power, and reign, highlighting her intelligence, political savvy, and the challenges she faced as a female ruler in a male-dominated society.

The illustrations complement the text beautifully, providing visual context that enhances understanding. Eding's clear and concise writing style keeps readers engaged, making this book a perfect choice for students and anyone interested in learning about Elizabeth's impact on history.

Overall, "Who Was Queen Elizabeth I?" is an informative and enjoyable read that successfully brings to life the legacy of a remarkable queen. It serves as an excellent introduction for young readers to dive into the rich history of the Tudor period.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nicely done biography of Queen Elizabeth I! While simple and kept clean…no speculations as to whether she was indeed a virgin queen…it covered all the important points of her life for the young crowd, pre-teen years. It covers the main crises of her reign, and how she solved them.

I really wish they would bring out a hardback edition of the “Who Was” series!

[Jannatul Maowa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Queen Elizabeth is the brave woman.😇

[Kristi Clemow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never really got into the royal family stuff but the book was interesting.
Top 5 things I learned/found interesting
- there are more portraits of her than any other queen or king....is this because people wanted her portrait or because she wanted people to want her portrait?
- she never married and did not want children, both it seems to me because she wanted to avoid death/losing power
- she never met Mary queen of Scots face to face
- she chose Mary's son as her successor even though Mary tried to take her crown and was beheaded by Elizabeth
- Shakespeare performed for her

[Amin Bachari · Rating 5 out of 5]

انتظار داشتم بیشتر درباره ی رابطه ی شکسپیر و ملکه گفته بشه، ولی باز هم کتاب عالی ای بود.

[Isabella Aranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have finished the book who is Queen Elizabeth and I thought I would rate this book five stars because the author used a lot of events of Queen Elizabeth’s life to make the biography interesting to read like bad moments/events or good moments/events in her life such as painful deaths or becoming queen of England. She ruled the country for forty- one years and had a wonderful life.The book is pretty easy though but I feel like the author should have put more detail into the book.But overall the book gave me thoughts and questions….MANY QUESTIONS about this book! I really enjoyed this book..

[Elissa Ottenschnieder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Are you looking for a biography that will interest your students in learning about Queen Elizabeth? Who was Queen Elizabeth, by author June Eding is the perfect choice. This short novel’s plot goes into detail about Queen Elizabeth’s life and provides generous insight into her life. This book includes illustrations by Nancy Harrison and would be the perfect book to get for your class.

[Cora Rusk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book "Who Was Queen Elizabth" it was a good book about how Queen Elizabeth came to become Queen. The book was about how King Henry 8th (Elizabths father) wanted a son so he could rule after Henry but when Elizabths mother had Elizabeth, Elizabeth was sent away and her mother was be-headed. When Henry got re married he got the son he wanted, after King Henry got sick and died his son took over but then when Henrys son died his daughter became Queen. When she became Queen she did not like Elizabeth because she didn't want Elizabeth to take the throne away from her but she took care of Elizabeth. When she got sick though she declared Elizabeth to take the throne after her and Elizabeth finally became Queen. She did all these good things for england and she took care of a lot of poeple, Elizabeth never got married and everyone was afraid of who would rule after her especailly when Elizabeth got very sick with small pox and back then there was no cure and it eas deadly. They did everything they did to get her well again and she did heal from it. after that she lost someone who she really cared about and she was very sad and got very sick, by that time she knew it was time to declare someone of the throne for after shes gone. My favorite part of the book was when she was danceing and all happy and lively, and I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about Queen Elizabeth and her past.

[Mayumi Inoko · Rating 4 out of 5]

- Penguin,Who was...?, RL3.0
- Time 12/3= 20minutes 12/5= 25minutes 12/6 =35minutes
- 7-word summary: England - Elizabeth - queen - Council - disease - spinsterhood - fashionable
- discussion Questions
1.Have you ever struggled with illness?
Actually, I have been lively so I have never struggled with such serious illness.
however, I have got conjunctivitis since I was a infant.
2.have you ever imagined that you were a king or a queen?
when I was little, I often imagined what would be going on if I were to be a princess.
Because I use to watch Disney movies which are fantasies and attractive.
Recently I watched Rapunzel so it was fun to watch it because I watched it as if I were her LOL

I could read this book easily because I was fascinated by actions of Queen Elizabeth.
In addition, I liked reading the story of her fashion!
she wore glorious dresses! How beautiful they were. I love the design in the era.

[S430980 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non-fiction is one of my favorite genres and that's why i loved this book. Queen Elizabeth is my favorite person to read and write about.
This book explained pretty much everything about her even stuff not about her. This book even had very detailed pictures of her and other surroundings.
The author, June Eding has written a lot of 'Who Was' books and their all about famous and legendary people, basically a lot of biography's.
This book explained sequences of events about Queen Elizabeth like her child hood and teen years and young adult to and older women to her death.
if you would like to learn about Queen Elizabeth you should read this book or even read non-fiction books i would recommend this author.

[Gavin Buersken · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't really know much about Queen Elizabeth but now I do. It was a interesting book about her life before being queen and then when she was queen. Even though it is a short book it teaches us a lot about the person in the book. Each book jams a lot of knowledge into each book. I liked how she was just a average girl but then became the queen of Great Britain for a long time. She was a girl who liked big dresses but also wasn't mean and would meet her people. I liked that she fought for her country with her men.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this series. They are well written and bring you the broad strokes of a person's story. It really helps me connect the people and events in history. Elizabeth was way ahead of her time. I can hardly imagine the smallest part of her life. I really hope they didn't have her watch her mother's execution at 3 years old.
Her family's lives are another testament that we are all mortals and no amount of anything changes that. What matters most is our daily walk with others.

[Maureen Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty well done, light introduction to this monumental historical figure. The WhoHQ series seems to produce well-researched and interesting products for middle-level readers, and this book is no exception. It must have been a very difficult task to distill such a long and intense life into a short book for kids, but I think the author does a good job touching on the most important parts of Queen Elizabeth I's life and reign and keeping the story accessible for most readers.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

So my 11-year-old is a reluctant reader and she loved reading this. She enjoys history and this was a great level of not too difficult reading that prompted lots of discussion and questions. She is starting the Queen Victoria one in the series next and looking forward to Marie-Antoinette after that.

[Laiba Basit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this Who HQ book, especially because they chose to write about such a prominent personality. I hope I can buy the one about Queen Elizabeth II, as she recently passed. (I don't think I'm getting any books until I finish the ones in my TBR list).

My rating: 5 stars.
2 stars for the narration.
3 stars for everything else.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid, but unspectacular.

[Katie Solt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like this book think it my favorite so far

[Go · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a condensed version of the Queen Elizabeth I’s life, daughter of the infamous King Henry VIII. I find her as captivating as her father. It seems she was a force to be reckoned with. Tragedy struck when she was just a toddler of 3 years old and her mother was beheaded—by her father. Her younger years were fraught with being branded illegitimate and abandonment. It was uncertain whether she would inherit the throne after her father’s death. She was imprisoned for years. Her brother, Edward, was first in line and died at a young age. Her cousin, Lady Jane Grey, was then a very brief successor while her half-sister Mary fought for the throne and won. This was a time with religious strife. When Mary was considering her successor she did not want Elizabeth because of her religion and because she considered her to be illegitimate. In the end, Elizabeth was chosen in order to keep their family legacy.

Elizabeth had a quick fiery temper—like father like daughter—yet almost always provoked by deceitful and disobedient behavior. She was loyal to her household. I admire her tenacity. She was unfortunate in love. The man she was interested in Robert Dudley, already had a wife. His wife’s death was suspicious. She was courted many times by many powerful men and it never worked out.

There were multiple assassination attempts on her life throughout her reign. One such plot was devised by her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots. She had a strong claim to the throne. Elizabeth hesitated to execute her given she was a relative and God’s anointed Queen. I wonder if she ever had a moment’s peace in her life.

It was interesting to learn that she had terrible rotting teeth, a result of her sucking on sweets all the time. In her old age, one foreign visitor noticed her wrinkled face and her lips narrow and her teeth black. Ew. Some stated she had a reputation of indecisiveness, vanity, and a tendency to bully. Still she was considered to be the best known and most respected of English monarchs, known for her strength of leadership, her clever creation of an iconic image, and her magnetic personality. She seems to be the originator of power-dressing, spin-doctoring, and human resource management. No one thought she could rule without a man yet she proved them wrong and reigned for 45 years.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read Henry VIII's biography from this same series because I have always been interested in his life. Henry VIII was obsessed with having a son and when he did he thought Edward VI would surpass him as a great ruler. If only he could know now that Elizabeth I, his second daughter from his short-lived marriage to Anne Boleyn, would become one of the world's greatest rulers and his true legacy. I love the irony in this and how Queen Elizabeth was one of the first monarchs to show women can run a country! I did not know much about Queen Elizabeth besides her linage and her lasting impact on the country. I learned how she did get her heart broken several times, she did not want to relinquish any power by getting married, she was one of Shakespeare's greatest supporters, and she influenced others through her fashion sense and commitment to the arts and literature. She was such a powerful and passionate ruler who truly loved her country as she would not name her successor until she was on her deathbed and had no choice.

I would highly recommend this series and specifically this one to not just kids but adults. Even as an adult, I learned several new facts about one of England's greatest rulers. There is also a bibliography and timelines you can use for quick references. Kids will also enjoy the sidebars on different people and events and the illustrations with detailed maps.

[Gabriela · Rating 5 out of 5]

How would you star rate this book (from 1 to 5) and why? I chose a 5 because I learned a lot of things, actually. I think the book is well written and you can understand easily.
5 = you loved the book
4 = you liked the book
3 = it’s okay
2 = you didn’t like the book
1 = you hated the book.
How highly do you recommend others to read this book, and why? From 1 to 10 I think I’d recommend it a 8.5, because to some people it may be a little well, you know. And an 8.5 because I think you can learn from it.
To what kind of people would you recommend this book to, and why? To kids my age, I think, that are interested in history or at least the story of Queen Elizabeth.
In 4 sentences or more, give a brief description of the book's story. The story is technically about the story of Queen Elizabeth, but it is really interesting. The story starts at the day of her birth and ends in the day of her death. It explains how Elizabeth became queen, and why.
Did this book change you? If so, how? If not, why not? It actually did, because I noticed that no matter who you are or what you do you can do anything.

[Goddess of Chaos · Rating 4 out of 5]

...to “wear a crown is more glorious to them that see it than it is a pleasure to them that bear it.

Elizabeth I understood how grand her life appeared from the outside -- she had wealth and luxuries compared to the average citizen, but her life had struggles and weights many may not have recognized or seen.

Her father ignored her, he wanted a boy, her mother died when she was 3. Her younger brother became King as a child, died before reaching 21, and not long afterwards Elizabeth's half sister had her imprisoned -- she was a threat to the new Queen by merely existing.

This book does a wonderful job walking through the complex life of a girl who didn't expect to be Queen, but truly owned the job when it became hers.

I read it just a week after the Coronation of King Charles III, and it is interesting to read about Elizabeth I Coronation, also at Westminster Abbey, and her portrait with the Scepter and Sphere.

[Bryanna E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book “Who was Queen Elizabeth” by Yona Zeldis McDonough is a awesome book. I rate it a 9/10 because it was very easy to read, clear, fun to read, and factual. Even though this book is easy to read I still love the fact that it has so much information but is still fun to read at the same time and I would recommend it to all ages. I took off 1 point when I rated it however because it wasn’t as clear as the other “who was” books I have read. I also really enjoyed the pictures and learning about the queens tragic but still amazing history. This book made me feel all types of emotions such as sad and happy. I really hope you buy this book because all in all, it is amazing and fun to read about such a amazing queen’s life.

[Benjamin]

How would you star rate this book (from 1 to 5) and why? 5 because I learned a lot about how the queen’s family is and how hard is to be queen.
5 = you loved the book, and
1 = you didn't like the book.
How highly do you recommend others to read this book, and why? I think 5 because I learned a lot.
To what kind of people would you recommend this book, and why? I think to my RP’s.
In 4 sentences or more, give a brief description of the book's story. In England, there was a baby that was born. She was named Elizabeth. Her family was from the Queen’s family. She was a princes. And she wanted to become a good queen.
Did this book change you? yes If so, how? Because It showed me how to be a good leader. If not, why not? It changed me.