"Experience the dread and the triumph of a 16th-century siege."

It's 1585 and the Netherlands is in revolt against the Spanish Empire. One Dutch town is all that stands between the Spanish army and its invasion of Holland. Prepare to experience a city under siege.

A composite of several historic battles, The Siege takes readers inside the walls of a besieged community and also behind the battle lines with the attackers. Readers will march with the advancing army and learn the staggering logistics of keeping it fed. They'll join the townspeople in preparing the defense, even demolishing some of their own buildings to deter the enemy. And they'll witness the need for patience as much as power, since victory often depended on outlasting the enemy against disease and starvation.

Brought to life through dramatic storytelling and vivid illustrations, and factually grounded with detailed diagrams, The Siege is a realistic look at Renaissance life during military strife.

There are 56 pages in this book. This book was published 2008 by Annick Press Ltd .

Stephen Shapiro is a lifelong aficionado of military history, and a recipient of the Canadian War Museum History Award. John Mantha is an artist and illustrator. His books include The Kids Book of Canadian Firsts and The Kids Book of Canada's Railway. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.