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The Romans

Romans on the Rampage
by Jeremy Strong

Perilus is a Roman boy who is crazy about chariot racing. He loves to practise in his own homemade chariot (pulled by the family goat) and dreams of riding in the Circus Maximus himself one day. But when Perilus's hero, the brilliant charioteer Scorcha , goes missing on the day of the big race, Perilus finds his wish coming true sooner than he'd imagined!

A laugh-out-loud story from King of Comedy Jeremy Strong.

The Thieves of Ostia
by Caroline Lawrence

The first in Caroline Lawrence's internationally bestselling Roman Mysteries series, re-issued with a fantastic new cover look.

Flavia Gemina is a natural at solving mysteries. The daughter of a ship's captain living in Ostia, the port of Rome, in AD79, she and her three friends, Jonathan, a Jewish boy (and secretly a Christian); Nubia, an African slave girl; and Lupus, a mute beggar boy, must work together to discover who is beheading the watchdogs that guard people's homes, and why.
A talented storyteller, Caroline Lawrence has created a delightfully readable and accessible series that children will want to read time and time again.

The Orchard Book of Roman Myths
by  Geraldine Mccaughrean, illustrated by  Emma Chichester Clark

A wonderfully rich and varied collection of fifteen stories from Roman mythology, retold for today's young readers. Here are all the famous myths from the birth of Venus, to the founding of Rome by Romulus and Remus. The great gods and goddesses, including Jupiter, Mars and Diana, are brought vividly to life by Emma Chichester Clark's beautiful illustrations that perfectly reflect the liveliness of Geraldine McCaughrean's gripping retellings.

Avoid Being a Roman Soldier
by David Stewart, illustrated by David Antram

The humorous cartoon-style illustrations and narrative approach encourage readers to get emotionally involved with the characters, aiding their understanding of what life would have been like being a Roman Soldier. Informative captions, a complete glossary and an index make this title an ideal introduction to the conventions of non-fiction texts for young readers. This work fits into KS2 History and is in ideal text for shared and guided reading for KS2 pupils within the framework of the National Literacy Strategy. It helps achieve the goals of the Scottish Standard Curriculum 5-14.

Roman Diary: The Journal of Iliona a young Slave
by Richard Platt, illustrated by David Parkins

The year is AD102 and Iliona, an educated Greek girl, has been orphaned and sold as a slave in Rome. Apart from her beloved diary, she hasn’t a friend in the world… But the family she works for are not unkind, and as Iliona begins to make friends and look around her, she discovers that the teeming city at the heart of the empire is a fascinating place. Through her eyes, watch the Roman army return in triumph from war against the Dacians, visit Nero’s baths, witness gladiators fighting in the famous amphitheatre, attend the senate and a sumptuous banquet, escape a house fire, discover how Roman women dress their hair … and celebrate with her on the day that she is granted her freedom for her bravery!

Across the Roman Wall
by Theresa Breslin

The minute that Marubetta meets Lucius, she hates him – pompous, stuck-up nephew of a Roman official! He thinks that, as a Briton, she is terribly provincial and she finds him arrogant and big-headed. But the year is 397 AD and life in Roman Britain is getting dangerous. And when Marinetta’s home, close to Hadrian’s Wall, is raided, Marinetta and Lucius are forced to act together.

The Time Travelling Cat and the Roman Eagle
by Julia Jarman

When Topher Hope’s devoted cat, Ka, leaves a computer message saying she has gone to ‘CA;;LLevA’ he follows her to a Romano-British settlement in AD 79. Ka is happy among the cat-adoring conquerors and their central heating! Topher, now a British boy apprenticed to a Roman mosaic maker, has mixed loyalties. When the eagle, symbol of Roman power, disappears from the forum, threatening the fragile peace, Topher begins a desperate search. Can he find it and save his Roman friend, Marcus, from the Druid’s murderous sickle? In this adventure Topher needs all the amazing powers of the time-travelling cat.

The Goose Guards
by Terry Deary

387 BC. Rome is under attack from the vicious Gauls and the barbarian army is now preparing to besiege the Temple of Juno on Capitol Hill, home of Brutus, a trainee priest. The temple’s inhabitants are offered help from the army of Lord Furius, but are not sure if he is to be trusted. However, when rescue eventually comes it is from an even more unlikely source. A tale based on one of the most famous of all Roman legends, full of Terry Deary’s dark humour and dry wit.

Charlie and Bandit Adventures: A Roman Rescue  
by Kelly Gerrard, illustrated by Emma Dodd

This is the first in a new time-travel series featuring Charlie and his dog, Bandit. In this first adventure they accidentally fall into a ‘sinkhole’ that transports them back to ancient Rome where there adventures begin as Charlie searches for his dog. Charlie is befriended by a young Roman named Cosmo; he must help his new friend win a chariot race before he can return home. The style and storyline are witty and appealing to all reading abilities. The context is educational and after the story, readers can delve into Charlie’s notebook, filled with all sorts of information and sketches about ancient Rome that Charlie has collected just in case he ever goes back.

A graphic novel with large text and a simple story to appeal to reluctant or struggling readers.

Wanted
by Kate Thompson

Marcus is a young baker in Ancient Rome, living with his family in the shadow of the murderous Emperor Littleboots. When a slave boy shoves the reins of a sleek, beautiful horse into Marcus’s hands seconds before he is killed by a soldier, Marcus knows he’s in danger – because the horse is Incitatus, the Emperor’s most prized and powerful animal.

Will Marcus find a way to keep Incitatus hidden? Are the rumours of Littleboots’s death true – or is it all a trick? And how can Marcus save himself, and his family?

A fast-paced adventure from the winner of both the Whitbread Children’s Book Award and the 2005 Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize.

The Fatal Fire
by Terry Deary

AD 64. Rome is a frightening place but little does Christian slave girl Mary realise the dangers that await her when she accompanies her master to the city. It is the day of the chariot races and Mary finds herself the only witness to a terrible crime. Soon it is not just the thieves and drunks she has to worry about, but someone far more cruel and powerful…

Escape from Pompeii
by Christina Balit

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 meant death for most of the Roman citizens living in Pompeii. But some people must have survived, and Christina Balit has used this as the starting-point for her story. It tells of Tranio, an actor's son, and his friend Livia, the baker's daughter, who witness the destruction of their beloved city.

A captivating picture book.

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