Live Like a Roman: Discovering the Secrets of Ancient Rome
by Claire Saunders, illustrated by Ruth Hickson
Published by Button Books, 2023
About this book
Did you know that the Romans didn’t have weekends? And only male citizens were allowed to wear a toga? Yet they were skilful engineers, craftsmen and soldiers, and left a lasting legacy on every country they invaded. This engaging book provides information on Roman jobs, city life, houses, transport, food, entertainment, religion and medicine. And a fictional young slave pops up throughout the book, describing the sights, sounds and smells of various places – including the baths! – which vividly brings the facts to life. There are also activities and recipes to have a go at, including making a theatre mask and an abacus. Either craft would be fun to do at home or at school. The colour illustrations, maps and timelines throughout provide valuable context and enable the child reader to visualise more easily what it would be like to live in that era.
This would be a useful addition to any bookshelf, as it’s engaging, visually interesting and covers lots of fascination facts.
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Lists of recommended reads
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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.