Roman City Guidebook. (Crabtree Connections). Jill Laidlaw. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2011. 24 pp., pbk. & hc., $7.95 (pbk.), $18.36 (RLB.). ISBN 978-0-7787-9971-9 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-9949-8 (RLB.). Subject Headings: Rome-Social life and customs-Juvenile literature. Rome-History-To 476-Juvenile literature. Grades 3-7 / Ages 8-12. Review by Robert Groberman. **** /4

excerpt:

If you are lucky you might be invited to a banquet. Banquets take place in people’s houses. It is usual to eat at a banquet lying down on couches arranged around a table. Banquets can last for hours.

In Roman City Guidebook, author Jill Laidlaw arranges facts about ancient Rome into the format of a modern tourist guidebook. Chapters include “Where to Stay,” "Shopping,” “Chariot Races” and “A Leisurely Bath.” Each of these topics, as well as five others, is clearly explained and colourfully illustrated with photographs. In the chapter about chariot races, readers learn that chariot racing is the most popular sport in Rome. Races take place at a venue called the Circus Maximus before 200,000 spectators. Additional captions and fact boxes explain how chariots are constructed and how chariot races were competitions between multiple teams of chariots.

      The detailed information and clear depictions of facts in photographs and drawings make it possible for even eight or nine-year-olds to process the information in Roman City Guidebook. The colourful illustrations and use of layout with fact boxes and long photo captions draw the eye to the page. Children will be inspired in their learning.

Highly Recommended.

Robert Groberman is a grade three teacher at Kirkbride Elementary School in Surrey, BC.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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