Romans Topic Booklist

This gripping novel is part of a historical fiction series that provides plenty of background information about life in Ancient Roman times.

The plot of The Thieves of Ostia centres around a young girl called Flavia who investigates the mystery of who is killing the dogs in the Roman port of Ostia.

This is a popular choice for KS2 classrooms and is part of the well-loved Roman Mysteries series.

Utterly compelling, totally immersive, and completely inspired, Ally Sherrick’s historical novel is unputdownable. Set in Britain under Roman occupation, the story stars Vita, the daughter of a Roman magistrate. When tragedy strikes her family, she is confronted with a different world from the one she has known, as she experiences what life is like for those who are conquered, rather than the conquerors.

As Vita struggles to solve the mystery of who murdered her father, she must also decide where her allegiances lie. Through her journey, she discovers that people, like Brea, her gladiator friend, are not always what they seem at first and that there is often more that unites us than divides us from our enemies.

‘Vita and the Gladiator’ is a perfect book to complement a study of Roman Britain for stronger readers in KS2, exposing them to a thrilling and gripping taste of what life under occupation might have been like. Pupils will recognise and enjoy the depiction of the gladiator arena, as well as the references to Boudica and her revolt against the empire. All in all, this read is highly recommended.

This latest historical fiction from Tony Bradman has all the elements of a traditional historical adventure story, with a thoughtful and courageous hero who’s out to prove himself navigating the Roman world and who’s naturally skilled in a classic sword fight. The story is exciting, tightly plotted, and grounded in enough research for the setting to be thoroughly convincing.

Lucius is eager to be adopted by his new stepfather and to make his way in Rome, but instead finds himself packed off to Londinium, where he discovers a ruthless assassin on his tail. To escape, he joins the Roman army under a false name. His bravery and loyalty quickly earn him recognition from his commanders, but the more he gains success, the more he wishes he could reclaim his true identity. As danger looms on the northern border, Lucius’s position becomes more precarious and secrets from his past threaten to resurface and destroy everything he has fought for.

While not especially complex, the narrative is pacy and well-written, with great chapter headings that read like newspaper headlines. It would make an excellent page-turning read-aloud or ‘read for pleasure’ recommendation in any class studying Roman Britain at Key Stage 2.

As the saying goes, history is written by the victors, and with the Celtic tribes of Ancient Britain leaving no records, we only have the Roman accounts of what happened during Boudicca’s revolt. Tony Bradman has taken details from Tacitus’ description of the Iceni queen and the battles she led to create a vivid and gripping story told by Rhianna, who witnesses the events of a turbulent time in British history.

After the king, Prasutagus, is poisoned, Boudicca defies the Roman rulers, with an awful punishment inflicted on her and her daughters. Boudicca plots her uprising to shake off the yoke of Rome, drawing the support of other tribes. Despite her love for Boudicca, young orphan Rhianna is only too aware of the darkness she reveals, with terrible revenge wreaked upon the inhabitants of the Roman cities as they are burned to the ground. At the final great battle, where the tribes’ defeat seems certain, an act of mercy gives Rhianna a means of escape and hope for the future.

The story of Boudicca’s revolt has resonated down the centuries, and whilst undoubtedly courageous, if foolhardy, to take on the might of the Roman army, Tony Bradman has also felt that there was something dark about the rebellion. His story aims to give young readers an understanding of the motivations that led to the uprising while opening up discussion on a range of ideas.

The first of Caroline Lawrence’s four Roman Quests, Escape from Rome is a completely gripping adventure filled with danger, excitement and some challenging themes to get stuck into.

Taking his siblings with him, twelve-year-old Juba is forced to flee the Emperor Domitian in Rome and set off on a journey to find his uncle in Britannia (the edge of the known world). Uncertain who to trust, Juba’s leadership skills are tested as he uncovers a sinister secret about his uncle’s lifestyle, requiring Juba to act like his hero Aeneas and make some difficult but important decisions.

Steeped in interesting historical details and covering challenging themes including slavery and immigration, this story is abundantly thrilling from the very first page and we recommend it for readers aged 10-13.

Empire’s End: A Roman Story is part of the VOICES series that celebrates the lives of diverse protagonists during key eras of British history.

This book tells the tale of a young North African girl who sets out on a danger-filled journey to Britain during Roman times. This is a gripping adventure that offers a new perspective into the myriad of Roman narratives shared in schools and is full of details that immerse readers in knowledge of life in Roman times.

The story helps to develop an understanding of the Roman world as one that was full of many different cultures, religions and ethnicities.

A super-fun novel by Jeremy Strong that tells of the crazy adventures of Perilus, a Roman boy who dreams of riding chariots in the Circus Maximus.

Romans on the Rampage is a laugh-out-loud and easy-to-read story offering a bit of light relief and is perfect to read aloud to lower KS2. There’s also a free accompanying Teachers’ Resource Pack available.

With this brilliant mash-up of LARPing (Live Action Role Play) and ancient history, Marie Basting will have children giggling and learning Latin while they do it! Silvia lives with her Dad in a small cottage by Hadrian’s Wall, where he plans on realising his dream of creating a LARP of epic Roman proportions. The only problem is, as Silvia realises, no one is really going to turn up when he’s not done any advertising. However, when Silvia gets sucked back in time and finds out she is actually one of a large and infamous mythical family, it turns out all of Rome will be coming!

Full of Ancient Roman trivia and Latin asides (with a handy glossary to make sense of them at the end of the book), the story of how Silvia discovers her true demigoddess identity won’t fail to hook in enthusiasts of all things Roman. The plot is fast-paced and contains a particular blend of pre-teen contemporary lingo. For children already familiar with and enjoying a topic on Ancient Rome, it’s a fun read, and may well be a hit with reluctant readers.

If you are looking for a quirky, fun (and just a little bit silly!) addition to classroom shelves for a topic on Ancient Rome then look no further!

A Gladiator Stole My Lunchbox is full of interesting facts woven into a fun, action-packed time travel story set in Ancient Rome.

A young boy from Britain is transported from modern times to ancient Rome. The reader sees the perils and joys of Ancient Rome through the eyes of a modern child – including going to an ancient Roman school, meeting the emperor and tasting delicacies of the day (including honey-dipped dormice!).

The book is colour illustrated including comic strips, maps and full-page spreads –  a winning combination for reluctant readers and those who enjoy fact-finding in a story.

Fans of other illustrated chapter books, like Pugs of the Frozen North by Sarah McIntyre and Philip Reeve, will enjoy this funny historical adventure. Ideal for Y3 onwards…

‘Terrible True Tales by Terry Deary (of Horrible Histories fame) allows young readers to learn about the history of the Romans in a fun, engaging way.

Like with any good historical fiction, children are introduced to an array of death, rebirth, slaves, soldiers and a little bit of gore! The book is split into four short stories, previously published separately, which capture some famous legends from Roman history. Through the story collection, we witness the fire of Circus Maximum, Roman Emperor Claudius betraying the Queen and the volcanic eruption in Pompeii. In the final story, readers will learn about the infamous legend of the Roman geese, much to their amusement.

At the end of each short story, the author has included a ‘you try’ section, which allows the reader to engage in an activity linked to the story and imagine themselves as a Roman. Readers are also given a guide to which elements of the Roman stories are based on historical fact, teaching them about history as they read.

Escape from Pompeii tells the story of a young boy called Tranio who lives in Pompeii at the time of the famous eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. This captivating picture book allows readers to follow the footsteps of Tranio and his friend Livia as they come to terms with the destruction of their city and find their own routes to freedom.

There is also an accompanying 2-week English unit available from KS2History.

This beautifully produced large-format book tells the story of the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE, based on the writings of Pliny the Younger. The tale is told chronologically, each page offering an illustrated vista of what it would have been like for the people who lived in the town of Pompeii, as well as the surrounding towns in the Bay of Naples.

The narrative shows the events unfolding for a small cast of residents from shopkeepers to slaves, with some fictionalised scenarios, although details are based on truth, having been taken from archaeological findings and Pliny’s letter. Not only does the reader understand the fear and uncertainty at the time of the explosion, but also the geological details, such as the preceding earthquakes, descent of pumice and ash and then of course the gas clouds and lava flows. The language is sophisticated but has good clarity, and it is easy to follow how events unfolded.

The story itself is fascinating, and anyone with an interest in ancient times, geology or human reaction in the face of tragedy will find plenty enough to absorb in the illustrations. A glossary and author’s note give extra information on the history and research, and overall, this is a solid narrative of events, well told and highly engrossing.

This engaging book is a fun hybrid between graphic novel, activity book and information text.

The story, told in graphic novel form, follows a group of friends who travel back in time and explore Ancient Rome. At various different points in the story there are relevant puzzles, fact boxes, activities and project ideas.

This book has a high visual appeal and is a great addition to your primary library of Roman topic books.

Marcia Williams embraces the Romans topic with her distinctive comic-book style.

This informative text covers a range of sub-topics featuring key people, places and myths. This is a book with a high level of visual appeal and is particularly popular for engaging reluctant readers.

Myths, Gods and Gladiators in Ancient Rome is part of the Comic Strip Myths series, focusing on the myths of Ancient Rome intertwined with information and facts describing the era.

The book begins with an introduction to Ancient Rome and the Roman Myths, before retelling the Creation Story in a comic strip style. The rest of the book follows a similar pattern: information pages on subjects such as the gods, Roman emperors, the Roman army, religion, inventions and gladiators, followed by cartoon strip myths linked to the information: Dido and Aeneas; Romulus and Remus; Horatius at the Bridge and so on.

Some of the myths selected the children will not have encountered before, others likely through their Greek versions, which provides an interesting discussion opportunity.

The comic strips themselves are engaging and fun. Dido and Aeneas, for example, is told in rhyme. Whilst many of the stories cover quite dark elements, their portrayal is often fun or silly. The information pages are a visual treat, with boxes of information and larger cartoons depicting the key details.

Overall, Comic Strip Myths: Myths, Gods and Gladiators in Ancient Rome is an excellent introduction to Roman mythology and history. It successfully combines education and entertainment, making it a great choice for young readers interested in myths, comics or the ancient world.

A picture-book style non-fiction text about the Romans. Each page has a short chunk of text accompanied by simple, bold illustrations or infographics.

Humorous and stylish without compromising on factual content, this book is a popular choice with reluctant or younger readers.

If you’re teaching a topic that includes a look at Roman Life then this book will enrich your curriculum and would be useful both when planning and for wider reading and research from students.

After a short introduction to the Roman Empire, on each page we travel back in time to meet a member of Ancient Roman Society, from all walks of life – a diverse selection from slave to Emperor. As they tell their individual stories, we learn about the hierarchy and workings of Roman Society and the everyday lives of many people, including some of the more ‘interesting’ details from history that children love! As well as gaining a glimpse into the luxurious lives of the rich, we learn about the hard life lived by legionaries from Secundus Nigilius, who often marches 30 miles a day; scribe Cordia Verbis teaches us how she mixes ink from soot and glue; and the Banker, Lucretius Tappo, teaches us the origins of the English word ‘money.’

The final pages of the book include more general information: a map of the Roman Empire, a timeline of key events, lists of famous Romans, inventions and Gods and Goddesses. They also include interactive elements. You can learn Latin and Roman Numerals and there’s a recipe to follow too (thankfully it’s for baking bread and not for the Roman delicacy of dormice dipped in honey!)

This superb book takes you into the world of the Ancient Romans through the artefacts left behind and shines a light on some of the most fascinating mysteries of the time by focusing on historical sourcework. Every double page features an object from history.

Each fact file gives today’s location of the artefact and a size guide for reference. A hand-drawn map with picture symbols at the back of the book is also useful as it shows where these objects were found and allows the reader to understand how the items are connected. Moreover, the text is written in short sentences organised by bullet points means that it’s easy to digest the information being presented. The illustrations are excellent and, given that there aren’t any photos in this book, they provide a detailed view of the objects.

A recommendable non-fiction book covering a comprehensive range of areas likely to come up in a KS2 history topic on Ancient Rome.

The underpinning idea is that an imaginary time capsule has been buried by a Roman child and dug up in the reader’s garden. By taking objects as a starting point, Hughes can roughly mirror the processes followed by archaeologists. The book encourages children to think about sources in a critical way, rather than accepting facts on trust.

The objects themselves are carefully chosen to enable explanations of different aspects of the Roman world and explore connections and differences between then and now. A typical chapter on an incense burner explains how the tree resin was harvested, traded and used by the Romans (they thought it helped them to communicate with the gods). There’s a little bit of etymology, and then links are made to other (much less fragrant) Roman smells and the use of incense today.

Bettany Hughes has deep knowledge of the ancient world, and there is a richness of information here that is often missing from other books about the Romans aimed at this age group.

The book is designed to be accessible, with black and white illustrations and typographical effects breaking up the text. The tone is generally chatty, with liberal use of the first and second person, questions and exclamations. It would be an excellent Romans-themed addition to the class library.

This book is a must-read for all those knowledge-thirsty children who love learning about the Romans!

Focussing on the Roman Army and life as a soldier, the information is presented engagingly and enticingly, with clear illustrations and well-laid-out text. From information about the Roman soldiers, uniforms and weapons, and the organisation of the army, to less-known facts such as what happened if soldiers were injured, this book is a wealth of knowledge. My favourite ‘fun fact’ is that instead of toilet paper, there were sponges on sticks and balls of moss, which everyone shared!

Since the Roman Empire and its impact on Britain features on the National Curriculum, this book is a great resource for teachers and pupils alike.

If you are teaching the Romans in primary school, this book would be an excellent investment. Each double page spread unpacks a different aspect of Roman society, nominally introduced by a young Roman following a different path through life. We meet farmers and butchers, engineers, lawyers and merchants as well as priestesses, soldiers and charioteers. Overall, it builds a rich picture of different experiences, from slave to emperor’s daughter.

The layout is clear, with the text broken into sensible chunks and accompanied by attractive illustrations. It looks engaging for younger readers as well as being easy to dip in and out of to discover more about particular topics. The history of Rome being a special subject of mine, I read it with an eye open for misconceptions but I was impressed by how well it had been researched and by the depth and reliability of the information. I also appreciated the odd snippet of Latin.

This is an appealing and accessible information book for children to pick up, read and enjoy in its own right. Don’t limit it to history lessons – recommend it to children who prefer fact to fiction and are ready to move beyond Horrible Histories.

‘What was it like to be an Ancient Roman’ is clearly written and easy to read. In 10 quick-to-read chapters, this short book describes many facets of Roman life – including the gory parts. Topics include how the empire began, life in towns, entertainment, life in the countryside, rulers and armies, religion, inventions and the end of the empire. The final chapter speaks about the huge impact Romans had on the world and the legacy they have left behind.

This would be great as a class read when learning about the Roman Empire in lower KS2, but equally could be used by pupils for individual research. The dyslexia-friendly format from Barrington Stoke is wonderfully accessible and each chapter would be a great basis for reading comprehension lessons.

An absolutely great short chapter book, highly recommended.