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Find out moreThe Roman Empire, and its impact on Britain, is studied in Key Stage 2 but children of all ages enjoy learning about the many aspects of Roman life. We have a selection of fiction and non-fiction titles for Key Stages 1-3.
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It's a welcome return of a classic story of loyalty and bravery at the time of the Romans. Brought up the stories of his father’s heroism and speculation about how he and his 5,000 soldiers disappeared without trace, Marcus sets out to try to unravel the mystery. His journey is full of danger and emotion which makes this both a thrilling adventure and a thoughtful story about one boy's search for his missing father. You can find more books on The Romans and Roman Britain on our LoveReading4Schools Reading List.
This lively information book does a great job of bringing the Romans to life for children using colour illustrations and interactive flaps to convey a great deal of information. There are double pages on the Roman army and its war machines, on Roman building, gladiators and – likely to be a favourite with most young readers – Roman public toilets. There are lots of facts to learn and some wonderfully quirky bits of information too: did you know, for example, that Roman schools took place in the street, or that Roman children had pet mice? Entertaining and effective as all information books should be.
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month April 2020 | Full of bravery, hope, dreams and humour this is a wonderfully doggy adventure as Paolo escapes from his confinement in a hairdressing salon and enjoys everything that is on offer in the stunning city of Rome. Paolo knows that Rome is full of beauty and magic but how will he ever be able to get out and see it? Seizing his moment when the salon door is left open, Paolo embarks on a whirlwind and dangerous adventure full cats, dogs, statues and even opera. Claire Keane’s fabulous illustrations create a glorious evocation of Rome – mostly from a dog’s point of view!
A gripping Roman adventure told by a young North African girl who sets out on a danger-filled journey to Britain. When, Camilla, a young North African girl travels with her mother and father from Leptis Magna to Rome in 207 AD, she believes that she is going to the centre of the world. But just a few months later, the little family is dispatched to the very edge of it: Britannica. Tragedy strikes and, left alone with the Empress while her father travels north, Camilla has to navigate the tricky world of of secrets and danger in this cold place she must now call home. In this heart-stopping adventure based on real historical events, Leila Rasheed shows us a dangerous and intriguing time in Britain that's sure to fascinate young readers. VOICES: A thrilling series showcasing some of the UK's finest writers for young people. Voices reflects the authentic, unsung stories of our past. Each shows that, even in times of great upheaval, a myriad of people have arrived on this island and made a home for themselves - from Roman times to the present day.
Produced in association with the British Museum this highly illustrated book gives kids a real sense of what life was like in Ancient Rome. It does so by asking them to put themselves in the sandals of their young forbears and compare aspects of their lives – humorously, mainly the worst bits. For example, they’re asked to imagine how horrendous school maths would be if all the letters were numbers, as they were for the Romans – it gives a whole new meaning to long division. There are sections on food, medicine (SO much better now) and family life too plus an index and glossary. Entertaining, accessible and full of information this merits X out of X.
Shortlisted for the Costa Children's Book Award 2019 | A fast-paced read packed with historical detail In the Shadow of Heroes is a clever blend of intrigue, politics, crime, history and a bit of fantasy. Set in Rome at the time of Emperor Nero, it weaves some Greek mythology – the tale of the Golden Fleece – into the world of the Roman elite. When unexpected visitors turn up at Tullus’s house one night, his slave Cadmus, an educated boy slave who was taken in by Tullus after having been abandoned as a baby, knows that something dangerous is afoot. The visitors bring a box with something that is clearly very desirable in it. What can it be? When Tullus disappears and Cadman is given a message by a slave who was formerly a British princess he set off on a trail to find out what is going on. The plot is twisty and inventive ensuring that the reader remains enthralled through out.
Ka, the time-travelling cat, has vanished again, leaving Topher a clue in the form of a Roman word on his computer: Ca;;LLevA. At first Topher isn't worried. Surely she's safe among the cat-loving Romans? But when he follows her to Roman Britain, they're both soon swept up in a conflict. As oppressed Britons fight the Romans, Topher faces a desperate choice - to help his British brother or his Roman friend?
Go back into the really rotten times of the Romans, where there were beastly battles, deadly doctors and marvellous myths. Discover what Roman soldiers wore under their kilts, how ancient Britons got their hair nice and how Romans told the future with dead chickens. With a bold, accessible new look, these bestselling titles are sure to be a huge hit with yet another generation of Terry Deary fans. 2018 is HORRIBLE HISTORIES twenty-fifth anniversary.
There's so much to digest when it comes to History - how do you know where to begin? These incredible short introductions are just the thing for readers who are beginning to explore ancient history. Get to know the basics on Ancient Rome from gladiators to day to day life, with easy-to-digest, humorous text that is reminiscent of the bestselling Horrible Histories series. James Davies' stunning artwork and infographics provide a fresh nonfiction approach that is sure to captivate young readers.
When the Histronauts travel back in time to the Roman Empire they'll need your help to uncover the secrets of the past. Explore the Roman baths, try on the armour of a legionary, make a sacrifice at the temple of the gods, ride in a speeding chariot and meet ferocious gladiators. An exciting mix of history, facts and activity!
Seth isn’t like other boys: he can see ghosts. In the second of this new series he is in London staying with his friend Nadiya and her family while his mother undergoes treatment for cancer. Exploring near the hospital, Seth and Nadiya run into a huge crowd of angry ghosts, the spirits of slaves forced by the Romans to build an amphitheatre. As the children work out what’s stirred the ghosts up, disturbing similarities between past and present come to the fore. It’s a typically exciting and involving story from Tom Palmer and, in publisher Barrington Stoke’s Conkers series, is accessible to all readers, no matter their fluency.
A sumptuous feast of historical fiction fuelled by drama, deception, and a young woman’s determination to find freedom. To be born a slave in Roman Britain is to lead a life of subjugation, and female infants are often killed at birth. But while Cassia is born into this brutal system, she’s also supremely strong, so her master deems her worth keeping, and marks her as a “concubine. A mistress. A whore.” When brought to his villa to fulfill this role, she’s filled with disgust; first at the opulence, which represents the suffering and violence done to her fellow slaves, and then by his touch. And so she attacks and maims him, and must go on the run. Alone and vulnerable in unfamiliar Londinium, Cassie is aided by Marcus. He finds her work with a renowned pharmacist but she still feels trapped, and so resolves to find a way to the haven that lies beyond Hadrian’s Wall. But she’s not sure whether she can really trust Marcus, her master is hot on her heels, and her reputation as a “witch” and “creature of legend” is mounting… The writing is crisply vivid, and packs a powerful visual punch, and I loved how Boudica’s spirit of resistance and rebellion permeated the book through Cassia’s indomitable strength. She’s an extraordinarily memorable heroine, and this is an extraordinary novel - historical YA at its best, no less.
Crazy capers abound in Ancient Rome! Croakbag the amazing talking raven tells the hilarious story of Perilus, the boy charioteer, his unpredictable family and Tiddles, the widdling elephant who's befriended them all. Another irresistible story for fans of David Walliams or David Baddiel, from Jeremy Strong, the original King of Comedy for young readers.
This striking, energetic series of which this is one of the titles, takes a rapid-fire ‘look and learn’ approach to subjects suitable for children aged 8 and over and each title makes the learning experience really fun. With fascinating topics ranging from Dinosaurs to Art, from Myths to Science, each of these books presents a key subject in a fresh and fascinating format. The subjects in each title are explained in 30-second sound-bites, supported by 3-second flash summaries. And if all that isn’t stimulating enough, the 3-minute mini-missions included will further challenge lively young minds. With colourful, original explanatory artwork on every page and text from a range of expert authors, these books are loaded with fun information and fast-track facts.
Escape from Rome Book 1 | The first in a brand new historical adventure series from million-copy-selling Caroline Lawrence, set in Roman Britain during the reign of the evil Emperor Domitian.
Cartoonist Gary Northfield gives a fresh take on all things Roman in this riotous romp starring Julius, a most unusual zebra. Julius has a knack of getting into trouble! As a result he has had a great many fights with everyone from his mother onwards before he finds himself swept off to Rome to appear as a gladiator in the famous Colosseum in Rome! Told in words and pictures, Julius’s story is witty, ridiculous and just plain good fun. ~ Julia Eccleshare
Interest Age Teen Reading Age 8 | Caroline Lawrence found inspiration for Queen of the Silver Arrow in Virgil’s Aeneid, and her story of warrior princess Camilla is as exciting as any fantasy adventure. Acca lives in Laurentum, a small town on the Tiber, in the days before the founding of Rome. She’s grown up hearing stories of the fierce young woman living wild in the hills, linked from birth to weapons. The arrival of migrants from Troy and the threat of war brings the two girls together. When war starts, Camilla fights like an Amazon – thrilling scenes put us at the heart of the battle and it’s impossible not to be awed and intimidated by her, as her friend Acca is. Tinged with myth as well as a real sense of the classical past this is truly gripping stuff, Katniss Everdeen look to your laurels! Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 12+
Perilus and his family are in trouble again! His dad has been arrested for stealing money from the Imperial Mint. Can Croakbag the talking raven save the day once more?
The Olympuss Games series, of which this is book three, is set in ancient Rome, the twist however is that cats rule the world and people have never existed. Hero and narrator of the stories is Son of Spartapuss, a young ginger cat from the land of Kitons, i.e. Britain – the stories are absolutely littered with cat puns - and in this episode, he and his companions are shipwrecked near Knossos and find themselves in the labyrinth facing the terrifying Minopaw. The stories are fun and exciting and the descriptions of life in classical Rome are actually very accurate. Young classicists will enjoy picking up all the references, while those who know less about the ancient world will want to find out more.
It’s August AD 78, and Claudia is at the Forum in the great city of Pompeii. It’s a day of strange encounters and even odder portents. When the ground shakes, Claudia is convinced it is a bad omen. What does it all mean? And why is she so disturbed by Vesuvius, the great volcano that looms over the city?
Perilus is a Roman boy who is crazy about chariot racing. He loves to practise in his own homemade chariot (pulled by the family goat) and dreams of riding in the Circus Maximus himself one day. But when Perilus's hero, the brilliant charioteer Scorcha , goes missing on the day of the big race, Perilus finds his wish coming true sooner than he'd imagined! A laugh-out-loud story from King of Comedy Jeremy Strong.
March 2013 Debut of the Month | Introducing Gladiator School, a series of novels set in a rich and textured world of dusty arenas, heated battles, fierce loyalty and fiercer rivalry. Follow young Lucius as his privileged life is suddenly turned upside down, leading him to seek answers amongst the slaves and warriors who work and train at Rome's gladiator school.
Adopting the same technique as he employs in Weird World of Wonders: Egyptians Tony Robinson brings the magnificent Roman world alive. From the famous story of the twins Romulus and Remus, who founded the city after having been brought up by a she-wolf, to the collapse of the mighty empire despite the power of Rome’s huge army, questions about all the good – and the bad - things about Rome are explored. Click here for the Weird World of Wonders website which includes a brilliant game created by Aardman Digital !
A compelling story about friendship, brotherhood and battling against the odds. A good resource for pupils learning about Ancient Rome with plenty of facts about how the Romans lived and the Colosseum comes to life in an exciting but brutal way.
Perfect for aspiring gladiators and centurions, these Roman-themed activities, include a soldier's shield and sword, an emperor's wreath and printed mosaics, and lots, lots more. Every project is clearly illustrated in an appealing and colourful style, with easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions and photos of the end results. It contains information boxes on each double-page with interesting facts about the Romans.
A Lovereading4kids 'Great Read' you may have missed 2011 selection. New time travel series in appealing, witty, graphic novel format. Charlie follows his dog Bandit when he accidentally falls into a sinkhole transporting them to Ancient Rome. Searching for his dog Charlie is befriended by Roman boy named Cosmo he must help his new friend to win a chariot race before he can return home. The style and storyline are witty and appealing to all reading abilities. The context is educational and after the story, readers can delve into Charlie's notebook, filled with all sorts of information and sketches about ancient Rome that Charlie has collected just in case he ever goes back.
Interest Age 9+ Reading Age 8+ | This is a terrific page-turner that will have particular appeal to children of 9+ who have a reading age that is below that level. Tony Bradman has created a really believable and powerful adventure set in Roman times that will have the reader asking for more. Barrington Stoke's mission is to help children enjoy reading by publishing accessible, enjoyable and unpatronising short books for children who are dyslexic, struggling to read, or simply reluctant to sit down with a book.
Excitement, drama and danger fills each and every one of these Roman mysteries. Certainly not essential to start at the beginning of the series – this is the 12th one as my view is they get better and better. The historically accurate elements are interwoven cleverly into the storyline, so much so that you’ll feel transported into the world of the Romans completely.
Colourful scenes with over 50 flaps to lift reveal fascinating historical details of life in Ancient Rome. Bright, clear illustrations show scenes such as a gladiator fight at the Colosseum, the workings of a Roman Bath and the Roman legion defending the farthest reaches of the Empire.
The minute that Marubetta meets Lucius, she hates him - pompous, stuck-up nephew of a Roman official! He thinks that, as a Briton, she is terribly provincial and she finds him arrogant and big-headed. But the year is 397 AD and life in Roman Britain is getting dangerous. And when Marinetta's home, close to Hadrian's Wall, is raided, Marinetta and Lucius are forced to act together.
Join Tranio, the son of an actor, and his friend Livia, the baker's daughter, in witnessing the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79.
Winner of the 1997 Whitbread Children's Novel Award | Entertainingly written, prize-winning Aquila is an exciting adventure. On a boring school trip, Tom and Geoff discover an ancient flying machine. Determined to find out more about it but also desperate to keep their find a secret, the boys return to the spot and, having mastered how to fly the thing, are soon off on incredible travels in a ship with strange powers including the ability to make them invisible. Along the way, they even have to learn some Latin for purposes of communication. Soundly based in a convincing everyday setting, Aquila is also a tightly plotted and well-imagined adventure.
