The Book Catalog
WORLD HISTORY
Greece & Rome

The Discovery of New Worlds

M. B. Synge
Yesterday’s Classics; Paperback; 225 pp.

Book II in the five-volume series, Story of the World relates the rise and fall of the Roman Empire and takes the reader to the end of the Middle Ages. The second half of this book portrays the rise of Islam, the Crusades and concludes with the voyages of Columbus.

Detectives in Togas

Henry Winterfeld
Harcourt Publishers; Paperback; 272 pp.

Seven boys in Ancient Rome solve strange crimes . . . thanks to some help from their cranky teacher, a little bit of logic, and a lot of amusing misadventure. Winterfeld gives an accurate picture of Roman life and customs, while making you laugh.

Classical Kids: An activity guide to life in ancient Greece and Rome

Laurie M Carlson
Chicago Review Press; Paperback; 190 pp.

Travel back in time and experience life in Ancient Greece and Rome. Have fun with hands-on activities while discovering how these civilizations have contributed to the world of art, math, cooking, science, and geography.

City: A story of Roman planning and construction

David Macaulay
Houghton Mifflin; Paperback; 112 pp.

The author shows the construction of an ancient Roman city over approximately 125 years. The imaginary Roman city of Verbonia is constructed through accurate and finely detailed drawings. Text and black and white illustrations show how the Romans planned and constructed their cities for the people who lived within them. Gives an accurate picture of Roman life and customs.

The Children’s Homer: The adventures of Odysseus and the tale of Troy

Padraic Colum
Simon & Schuster; Paperback; 256 pp.

A lucid and poignant retelling of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey was written specifically for younger readers. Beautiful, line-drawn illustrations accompany the text. The author, Padraic Colum (1881–1972), was an Irish-American who participated in the revival of ancient texts, both Irish and Greek. 

Cleopatra

Diane Stanley
HarperCollins; Paperback; 48 pp.

Queen of Egypt at the age of eighteen, Cleopatra’s passion was to unite the world under Egyptian rule. Legendary leaders risked their kingdoms to win her heart. Her epic life has inspired countless tales throughout history. A timeless story of love, war, and ambition; this pictorial biography gives a clear picture of one of the last Pharaohs of Egypt and the rise of the Roman Empire.