19th July International Castles Day

International Castles Day is celebrated on July 19th. The 19th July is also Palace Day. Why are they on the same day? I don't know, but they do have a lot in common and together will make a great library display.

The dictionary says that:

a castle is a large building, typically of the medieval period, fortified against attack with thick walls, battlement, towers, and in many cases a moat or a massive imposing house built by a king or some important person.

a palace is a large and impressive building forming the official residence of a ruler, pope, or archbishop. 

There are just so many castles and palaces to visit in Europe, but for Australian children their first introduction to such grandeur and history will probably be through a book, perhaps a fairy tale such as Twelve Dancing Princesses, a  story about King Arthur or St George, a series such as Geronimo Stilton or The Dragonsitter. 

Collect together any books with 'castle' or 'palace' in the title and then look for stories about kings, queens, princes, princesses, knights and dragons and you will find castles and palaces.