Rome

Grade 3-7-How can an illustrator convey "the glory that once was Rome" to modern children when dealing with a landscape of weathered columns and wisteria? In City (Houghton, 1974), David Macaulay draws viewers in through carefully rendered close-ups of a fictitious, ancient site in the planning and design stages, brick by brick. These detailed cutaways and cross-sections deconstruct. Here, Biesty exposes the underground passages of the Colosseum, the bull being sacrificed in the Temple of Jupiter, the lack of privacy in the public restrooms, and the activity in both a wealthy politician's home and in a street scene. Life at the docks, baths, races, and Forum is interpreted by a cast of thousands and with touches of humor. The text consists of a brief narrative for each spread as it describes a festival-day routine through the movements of a senator and his son. Numerous labels, packed with information, are connected to the colorful panoramas. There is no bibliography, but the facts and re-creations are consistent with authoritative sources. Further fun awaits youngsters in the hands-on activities in Philip Steele's Step into the Roman Empire (Lorenz, 1997) and the characters and adventures in Caroline Lawrence's "Roman Mysteries" series (Roaring Brook).
Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 4-7. This oversize book of cross-sections is a visually intriguing, reader-friendly introduction to ancient Rome. Set up to follow a day in the life of a well-to-do young boy, Titus Cotta Maximus, this introduces a number of subjects as it transports children to a variety of places--the Colosseum, a festival, the docks, the chariot races, and Titus' own house. Each two-page spread, introduced by a short introductory paragraph, covers a different topic, with minutely detailed, informatively captioned illustrations of people and places (panoramic views as well as views from above, from the side, even from behind the scenes) that bustle with activity. They are loaded with the stuff of daily life--gladiators, buildings, food, even a tiny toilet with a little man perched on it. Fun, fascinating, and informative, this sometimes humorous envisioning of Roman civilization is ideal for browsers and for visual learners alike. Shelle Rosenfeld
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