Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 3-6. In these two titles in the Ancient World series, Connolly's artwork is the primary element, with snippets of informative text by Solway surrounding the pictures. Greece covers daily life, housing, religion, government, work, social life, sports, and the theater. Rome introduces facts about home life, food and shopping, work, the theater, racing, the baths, the Roman forum, and religion. The artwork ranges from imaginative, original paintings to photos, reproductions of famous art and antiquities, and labeled cutaway drawings. Kids in search of spicy details (information about vomitoriums, for example) will need to search elsewhere. There are some British spellings, but that probably won't interfere with the books' value for ancient history studies. Each volume concludes with a glossary. --Kay Weisman
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-8-At first glance, this volume appears to be yet another book about life in the ancient world, but the striking illustrations make it an extraordinary contribution to this field. Solway's lively, interesting interpretation of life in Greece is enhanced by many drawings, photographs, and diagrams, all of which are exceptionally well done. In several illustrations, Connolly meticulously re-creates the buildings of the ancient city and includes precise drawings of hundreds of individuals dressed in appropriate attire for the occasion under discussion. The text examines the geographic area of Athens, Sparta, and Persia and then discusses such subjects as daily life, religion, work, government, sports, and the theatre. While the book contains all the features young report writers might be seeking, it also is enjoyable as recreational reading. It is similar in content to Fiona MacDonald's First Facts about the Ancient Greeks (Peter Bedrick, 1997) and Anne Pearson's Ancient Greece (DK, 2000), but the illustrations and writing style make it the preferred choice.-Elizabeth Stumpf, Clearfield Middle School, PA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Ten double-page spreads depict Rome in 128 C.E. The home of a Roman senator, the chariot races at the Circus Maximus, and the Colosseum are among the places featured in the incredibly detailed cross-section illustrations and discussed in the brief text and captions. Some of the art is reduced to the point that a few of the smaller components appear rather blurry. Glos., ind. From HORN BOOK Spring 2002, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
