Ancient Rome

Gr 4-8-Three different authors show how art provides primary-source information about everyday and family life, beliefs and religion, and philosophy and mythology in these ancient civilizations. They explain that it provides evidence of the early use of Chinese acupuncture, the design of Greek warships, the vanity of Roman emperors, and much more. The books follow a well-organized format that makes the history accessible for reports, but the authors' individual styles take the books beyond a reports-only status. Captions for the two or three illustrations per spread are clear. Lines point to specifically mentioned details, and boxed information corresponds to nearby artwork. The pages are attractively designed to present many facts without being too busy or confusing. A regretful omission is a pronunciation guide in the glossary. These books offer a different perspective on how historians learn about ancient civilizations. They introduce not a history of art, but rather a history through art.-Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

In a first-person narrative, eight-year-old Flavia tells about her life in Rome during Emperor Trojan's rule. The brief text is illustrated with photos of contemporary children in costume--a gimmick that makes the history seem less real, not more. The text provides information about family life and housing, clothing, food, education, sports, and more. Simple activities and recipes are included. Ind. From HORN BOOK Spring 1999, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.