Ancient Rome and Pompeii

June 1, 2006
Gr. 2-4. Readers of the Magic Tree House fiction series will find it reassuring to see two familiar characters and a similar series logo on the cover of this nonfiction guide to ancient Rome and Pompeii. Though designed to provide background for " Vacation under the Volcano" (1998), the book can easily be used on its own. It offers an accessible introduction to the history of Rome and to Pompeii, both as the site of a volcanic disaster and as a wonderfully preserved ancient Roman town with much to show about daily life during the period. Fully illustrated with black-and-white drawings and photos of sites and artifacts, the book concludes with basic tips for doing research using nonfiction books, lists of recommended books, videos, DVDs, software, Internet sites, and museums. Useful for younger researchers. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2006
Black-and-white photos of artifacts, art, and architecture, along with detailed black-and-white drawings, illustrate every page of this easy-to-read introduction to the Roman Empire and the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The authors offer a good historical overview and include tidbits of information that young readers will find fascinating. Tips for doing more research round out the volume. Reading list, websites. Ind.

(Copyright 2006 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)