Ancient Games: A History of Sports and Gaming
by Iris Volant, illustrated by Avalon Nuovo
Interest age: 6 to 11
Reading age: 7+
Published by Flying Eye Books, 2020
About this book
Did you know that in Ancient Egypt, spectators watched people in rowing boats water jousting on the Nile? Or that the Aztecs had an annual pole-climbing competition, where athletes raced each other up a 15 metre tall pole made from a tree truck, grabbing prizes as they went?
Ancient Egyptian, Mesoamerican, Ancient Greek and Roman, East Asian and Viking cultures are all explored in this fabulously illustrated book along with specific sports stars from ancient history. For example, The Lady of Yue, who lived in China at approximately 400 BCE, was one of the greatest sword experts of all time, and was appointed by King Goujian to train his soldiers.
As ever with Flying Eye titles, the illustration and lovely book production means that this is a special treasure of a book that kids will adore – it’s also a great way to get sports-mad kids into history. This would be useful for a school project about ancient Greece, Rome or Viking cultures often studied at primary school and a really lovely focus for looking at sport across a number of world cultures.
More books like this
-
Ancient Warriors
by Iris Volant, illustrated by Joe Lillington
9 to 14 years
-
A History of Fashion for Children
by Celia Joicey and Dennis Nothdruft, illustrated by Rose Blake
7 to 14 years
-
Dance of Resistance
by Catherine Johnson, illustrated by Katie Hickey
9 to 14 years
-
The Stuff That Stuff Is Made Of
by Jonathan Drori, illustrated by Raxenne Maniquiz and Jiatong Liu
9 to 14 years
Lists of recommended reads
-
Books about Romans
The Romans left a lasting legacy after over 1,000 years of empire, and we are still discovering more and more about them. This selection of books shows what various aspects of Roman life was like, from gladiatorial action to their religious rituals. It includes fiction and non-fiction and is suitable for primary-aged children.
-
Books about the Ancient Greeks
The Greeks are fascinating, with their gods, their Games and their myths. This selection of brilliant books is a mix of fiction and non-fiction, aimed at primary-aged children.
-
Books on Ancient Egypt for primary school children
Non-fiction and stories that weave in Egyptian facts and historical settings
-
Books about the Ancient Greeks
The Greeks are fascinating, with their gods, their Games and their myths. This selection of brilliant books is a mix of fiction and non-fiction, aimed at primary-aged children.