Pompeii (Through Time Series)

This sumptuous, innovative recreation of Roman life traces the rise and fall of a great empire. Superb illustrations retell the lost story of Pompeii—the life of its people, its conflicts and disasters, and the changing fortunes of a house at the center of it all. Beginning in the sixth century bce, a simple hut becomes a farmhouse, and gradually the farmhouse is swallowed up by the expanding new city of Pompeii. The house grows as the city and its inhabitants prosper. But finally it also suffers the devastating effects of the natural disaster that swallowed up the city—the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. This is the story of the growth and destruction of a house, a city, and an empire. Further, it is a tale of discovery and revelation that tracks the extraordinary archaeological work involved in unearthing and interpreting Pompeii's remains.

This sumptuous, innovative recreation of Roman life traces the rise and fall of a great empire. Superb illustrations retell the lost story of Pompeii--the life of its people, its conflicts and disasters, and the changing fortunes of a house at the center of it all. Beginning in the sixth century bce, a simple hut becomes a farmhouse, and gradually the farmhouse is swallowed up by the expanding new city of Pompeii. The house grows as the city and its inhabitants prosper. But finally it also suffers the devastating effects of the natural disaster that swallowed up the city--the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. This is the story of the growth and destruction of a house, a city, and an empire. Further, it is a tale of discovery and revelation that tracks the extraordinary archaeological work involved in unearthing and interpreting Pompeii s remains.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6- This slim volume focuses on Pompeii's history rather than on the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Starting with the image of a single hut, the author describes the growth of the city from a small group of farms from 750 B.C. to a bustling metropolis at the time of the disaster. Chapters include "The house at its peak A.D. 60," "The eruption A.D. 79," and "Forgotten Pompeii A.D. 1689." The final spread, "Romantic ruins Today," brings the chronology up-to-date. Two time lines give readers a visual perspective of the city as it changes. Small, detailed diagrams and illustrations with informative captions make up most of the spreads, which include two or three brief paragraphs of text. The book is successful as an introduction and good for browsing, but doesn't have enough information for reports.-Lana Miles, Jackson Elementary School, Rosenberg, TX

Richard Platt is the author of more than fifty books for children. He is the author of Eureka! which was chosen as a 2004 Outstanding Science Trade Book by the CBC and NSTA.