Everyday Life

Children's Literature

Many people take for granted the art, music and entertainment of our times. Yet few people realize the influence of ancient cultures on these aspects of our lives. Robert Hull is able to bring all of this to life in this part of "The World of Ancient Greece" series. Using images of the art and drawings made by this ancient civilization, Mr. Hull presents an understandable and simplified description of how the ancient Greeks celebrated life. Using the format of small informative paragraphs along with many different images, Hull introduces the reader to many different subjects. This book is a wonderful starting point for any social studies program. Its graphics and information are well-done and will pique the interest of many students. By covering the different areas in Greek civilization, the readers learn the various contributions the Greeks made to what we know today. Examples of this are in such areas as "Science and Knowledge" or "Sports and Games." Lastly, with a glossary in the back of the book, this is a useful starting point for any discussion of the Greek civilization. 1999, Franklin Watts, and $6.95. Ages 6 to 12. Reviewer: John D. Orsborn

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-Two titles that follow the now-familiar layout of a double-page topic treatment, with sidebars discussing modern-day examples of the ancient ideas. For example, in Entertainment, a photograph of a modern actor accompanies information on the ancient theater. In Everyday Life, a photograph of Presidents Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela accompany the discussion of politics in ancient Greece. While the first title imparts a fair amount of information, the second one is too general for most readers. Both books are awash with illustrations and photographs. Stewart Ross's Daily Life (Peter Bedrick, 1999) and Anne Pearson's Ancient Greece (Knopf, 1992) offer more information in a similar format. Hull's offerings will appeal to students looking for easy reading, but will be useful only as supplements. Unless there is a high need for material on this topic, pass on these series entries.-Julie Ventura, Fresno County Library System, CA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|