Leigh Grant

For fun, I decided to review Rome, a Fold-Out History of the Ancient Civilization, by Leigh Grant. It might be a stretch, but this pop-up book provides a lot of details about ancient Rome in a very engaging and attractive format. It is essentially a fold-out/ pop-up book made up of six panels. Each covers a different aspect of the Romans, their history, and their culture. The six panels include the Forum, Roads and Chariots, Gladiators, and Daily Life. The fold-out itself is lavishly illustrated with realistic depictions of the ancient Romans. Each panel has several paragraphs of information on it, essentially to be read before you fold it down. For example, the panel about Roads and Chariots includes information about maps, chariots, chariot racing, and even a passage about the Emperor Nero, who rode a chariot in the Circus Maximus despite being ridiculed. The panel about Daily Life includes details about families, the aristocracy and the commoners, clothing, and different forms of entertainment. Though not a complete look at the ancient Romans and their history, it is a good introduction to the culture and a way for young readers to get into the topic.… (altro)