A treasure trove of information about the Ancient World, presented in a seek-and-find format, with a magnifying glass included.

This fun and interactive book includes different scenes depicting daily life in Ancient civilizations both known and unfamiliar, including Babylonia, Ancient China, the Mongol Empire and the Kingdom of Zimbabwe. Readers familiar with the Where’s Wally? books will dive right in without hesitation as they search for different characters, animals, symbols and objects that all build up to create a detailed picture of different aspects of each Ancient Civilisation.

Each page also contains chunks of text with explanations or facts to add context alongside each scene. This is an appealing and engaging book set to entertain and inform young readers exploring the topic of global ancient history.

Beautifully illustrated and bursting with knowledge, Volant and Nuovo’s Ancient Wonders is the perfect companion for any teacher of history, supporting links and connections between different curriculum topics. From the Great Pyramid of Giza to Stone Henge, information is nestled between beautiful illustrations – double-page spreads that bring the book to life with pops of colour and intricately-drawn diagrams that enable the reader to delve deeper into the ancient design and structure.

In its very first pages, the reader is encouraged to embark upon an awe-inspiring journey across the world, exploring ancient wonders and the stories of those who brought them to life. Each of the Seven Wonders of the World is explored in three sections: inspiration, ancient technologies and ‘another wonder’.

The section dedicated to the Temple of Artemis, for example, begins with a stunning illustration and an introduction to its history. Broken down into easy-to-read paragraphs, the book does not favour illustration over information and instead boasts the story of the wonders from conception to the modern day. Following on from its history, the book dives into each wonder’s original inspiration, drawing on ancient mythologies and how many of them are intertwined. The text goes on to explore another similar but lesser-recognised wonder, acknowledging that the initial list of seven is just a sampling of stunning artworks from past civilisations. Additional ‘wonders’ include The Ellora Caves, Emperor Quin’s Terracotta Army and the Nazca Lines.

Ancient Wonders is an impressive and comprehensive non-fiction picture book that children (and adults alike) will love to explore!

The second book in a dragon-filled adventure series by Katie and Kevin Tsang, co-authors of the popular Sam Wu books.

In the midst of an action-packed summer, Billy Chan and his companions find themselves far from relaxation. A dreadful event unfolds and the fate of their friend lies in their hands, urging them to embark on a time-traveling journey back to Ancient China to rescue him. Thus begins an epic adventure that will lead them through the unforgiving depths of the Frozen Wasteland and into the opulent halls of Ancient China’s imperial palaces.

Filled with legend, magic and, of course, dragons, this series would sate any young fantasy lover’s reading appetite. There’s excitement around each corner – from magical objects to out-of-bounds adventuring. I also loved that each of the children was so different, but managed to form a loyal team, exemplifying how you don’t have to be friends with only people who are similar to you. This is a promising adventure series, filled with humour, warmth, action and magic, and this second book could be read in sequence or as a standalone adventure.

If you are looking for something to engage KS2 on the theme of Ancient China, this gripping action-packed novel is for you. Haoyou feels compelled to save his mother from being forced into a new marriage after the death of his father. Can Haoyou use his powerful kite to find away of reaching his father’s spirit, who dwells with the spirits of the dead among the clouds? But when the Jade Circus arrives, Haoyou faces the question of whether the circus master can offer him the opportunity of a lifetime or whether it is going to lead him into the greatest danger yet.