A Roman Fort

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-Profusely illustrated series entries that will appeal to children fascinated with detail. The first title examines daily life in a fort during the reign of Hadrian (A.D. 117-138). Two-page spreads cover a range of topics from layout and defense to food storage and consumption. A paragraph of text on each subject is supplemented by informative captions while a number of cutaway drawings reveal the interiors of homes, a bathhouse, a hospital, a temple, and other scenes. Living Tomb covers a much wider time period in a similar format but is not as well organized. Topics include the Valley of the Kings, tomb builders, and "Robbing the Tomb." The illustrations are somewhat clumsy, but informative. The most distinctive aspects of these titles are that sections of the drawings are magnified outside the pictures. Thus, small details, such as a centurion's helmet, can be appreciated. There are also series of drawings in the margins that illustrate various procedures or ideas, such as building a fort or wall treatments; they are very small and must be examined closely. The map in each title is obscured by extraneous pictures. In content and style, Johnson's title is similar to Fiona MacDonald's A Roman Fort (Peter Bedrick, 1993). However, Brian Moses's An Egyptian Tomb (RSVP, 2000) offers a more focused examination than Morley's volume. These books are not for report writers; they are a browser's delight.-Carol Durusau, Newton County Public Library, Covington, GA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.