Matisse was one of the most original artists of the 20th century. He became famous for his use of colour and early “Wild Beast’ paintings. In later life, when he was too ill to stand at an easel, he began “drawing with scissors,” creating iconic cut-out compositions with coloured paper. See his works come to life in five dazzling pop-ups and read about his love of cats and life on the French Riviera.
This book begins with a ‘prehistory’ section, and then the ancient civilisations are organised into geographical regions. Within those sections, the civilisations are in chronological order. As well as including civilisations that are typically studied at primary school (such as Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece), less common ones are included, such as those in Ancient China and Japan and the Minoans.
Each page is really colourful with engaging illustrations such as maps showing where the ancient civilisations were, pictures of their artwork, labelled diagrams of their houses and examples of what their clothing was like. There is a handy glossary at the back of some of the trickier words that are used in the book. The pages are arranged in an accessible way with clear subheadings for the different sections.
This is a fantastic overview of many ancient civilisations and would be great for any KS2 classroom.
Meet teenagers like Timarete, a young woman artist, and Cosimo, a trainee bard. There’s Lysander, who wants to be an actor, and Cassie, who wants the right to vote. Sebastian is an oarsman who dreams of owning a market stall, while Agnodike has become a female doctor, against the odds. We’ll introduce children working on farms, in pottery workshops and barber’s shops. You’ll hear the clash of weapons, gossip at the market, music lessons and philosophical debate. You’ll even watch the ancient Olympics!
When China was first united some 2250 years ago, it was already a country rich in skills and tradition, where farmers grew rice in flooded fields, women wove beautiful silk cloth, and philosophers wrote important guides to life. China’s imperial age of dynasties and emperors lasted to the 20th century.
Makes it easier for modern readers to understand the past.
Shows the lives of girls and women on every page providing an inclusive view of life in the ancient world.
Ideal for home & school libraries.
Seas & Oceans: An Animated Atlas covers information all about habitats belonging to our Blue Planet and the dangers posed to our oceans. The book includes alternating pages which refer back to a colourful map of the world, to ensure children understand the geography of the information they are gaining. On these beautifully illustrated maps, there are enlarged images of animals, to assist children’s visualisation of their position on our earth.
Information is presented in small, easy-to-read chunks, but there are also many clever tools to help less able readers access new knowledge. For example, some pages include a scale comparing animals to day-to-day objects (a whale and a double-decker bus). There is also an App available to accompany the book, which you can download and use to scan the pages to watch an animated scene that brings the images to life. Children can watch, listen and learn through 50 videos and 20 animated scenes. What better way to immerse children in new learning?
This stunning and modern take on an Atlas is an absolute must for every child’s bookshelf. I have no doubt its interactive pages will inspire many young marine biologists.
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 would you be in Ancient Egypt? is a fantastic book for anyone wanting to learn more about Ancient Egyptians and their daily life. The book begins with a simple timeline and an introduction that explains that real men and women got married, worked their jobs and had families – there is much more to learn than just mummification and the pharaohs! Each double-page spread then focuses on different types of people or professions during the Ancient Egyptian era.
The book is full of interesting facts and details about all aspects of Egyptian daily life and job roles, and would be an excellent resource for anyone studying this period. With a clear contents page and an index page, the book is easy to navigate. There is also the fun feature of a two-page quiz at the back of the book to test the knowledge acquired.
review
Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:
Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:
Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
Would you recommend the book for use in primary schools?
yes
Curriculum links (if relevant)
Curriculum links (if relevant)
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