It’s Ancient History year in our homeschool so of course, one of the big units of the year is the study of Ancient Rome. This is such a fun unit! So, I pulled all my Ancient Rome living books off the shelf, ordered a few new troves, and immediately decided to share my list with you! These books are the perfect mix of historical fiction, non-fiction informational texts, and biographies to engage your young readers.
Learning about Ancient Rome is thrilling!
Let’s break them down by grade levels. And remember – you want to choose a book a bit above your child’s grade level to use as a read aloud. Another idea? Download an audio book to listen to in the car. Plus, don’t be afraid to let your kids read independently books that might seem a tad too easy. They’ll get more out of the content if the books are not a struggle.
Disclaimer: Each book featured in the list is hyper-linked to Amazon where I can earn a small commission if you purchase through my link. It’s no additional cost for you but helps me and my family. I only promote books and products that I’m familiar with and truly believe in. So, please click through and know you are helping out another homeschooling family! Thank you!
>>> Jump to Kids’ Books About Ancient Egypt
>>> Jump to Kids’ Books About Ancient Greece
Ancient Rome Picture Books for Kids
Rome Romp! By Margie Blumberg
Book type: rhyming fiction picture book
Pages: 43 pages
On a visit to Rome, Italy, for just one day, Grandma Goldie is eager to show her grandson, Danny, all the sights. But when Danny’s puppy, Cappuccino, dashes off across the piazza with some chirpy birds, their plans change in a hurry! Will this peppy pair find their playful pup before the sun sets on their dizzy day? Find out in this charmingly illustrated rhyming tale about the Eternal City . . . and happy surprises!
Escape from Pompeii by Christina Balit
Book type: fiction picture book
Pages: 32
Join Tranio, the son of an actor, and his friend Livia, the baker’s daughter, in witnessing the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79. Tranio, like most Roman boys, likes to watch whatever is going on: tradesmen selling their goods, ships unloading their exotic cargoes, politicians making speeches in the forum. But one hot August day a very different scene unfolds. The ground begins to shake, the sky to darken. Heading for the harbor, Tranio and his friend Livia hide on a boat and witness one of the most terrifying moments in recorded history-the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the destruction of their beloved city, Pompeii.
Although this book handles the sensitive subject of a tragic natural disaster, this book perfectly pitched for 1st and 2nd grades. It is great in explaining the daily life of Romans from a child’s point of view.
Pompeii: Lost & Found by Mary Pope Osborne
Book type: historical picture book
Pages: 40
The famous eruption of Mount Vesuvius that snuffed out life in Pompeii and buried the town has long been a fascinating moment in history for children. This book presents that dramatic story with Mary Pope Osborne’s brief text and with stunning frescoes created by Bonnie Christensen, using the same colors, style, and technique as the ancient frescoes unearthed at Pompeii. In addition to the destruction of Pompeii and the rediscovery of the ruins nearly 1,700 years later, the book shows what daily life was like in this prosperous Roman town in the year 79 A.D.
Ancient Rome Books for Grades 2-4
Pompeii…Buried Alive! (Step into Reading Level 4) by Edith Kinhardt
Book type: historical
Pages: 48
Chapters: 3
“The drama of natural disasters provides prime material to entice young independent readers. In this volume, the account of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius describes village life 2,000 years ago, the eruption itself and its aftermath, and the excitement when the buried town is rediscovered centuries later. A lively and factual glimpse of a devastating moment in history, in an accessible, attractive package.”–Publishers Weekly.
Magic Treehouse Vacation Under the Volcano by Mary Pope Osborne
Book type: historical fiction
Pages: 96
Chapters: 10
Who wants to vacation next to a volcano? Jack and Annie are about to find out when the Magic Tree House whisks them back to the days of the Roman Empire. They arrive in Pompeii and soon discover that it is the very day the city will be destroyed. Now Jack and Annie must race against time to find an ancient library before it is buried in ash!
Ancient Rome and Pompeii (Magic Treehouse Research Guide)
Book type: historical informational
Pages: 128
Chapters: 7
When Jack and Annie got back from their adventure in Magic Tree House #13: Vacation Under the Volcano, they had lots of questions. How did ancient Rome become an emipre? Where did ancient Romans go for fun? What happened to the Roman town of Pompeii? What have we learned from it? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Jack and Annie track the facts. Filled with up-to-date information, photos, illustrations, and fun tidbits from Jack and Annie, the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers are the perfect way for kids to find out more about the topics they discovered in their favorite Magic Tree House adventures. And teachers can use Fact Trackers alongside their Magic Tree House fiction companions to meet common core text pairing needs.
Who Was Julius Caesar? By Nico Medina
Book type: biography
Pages: 112
Chapters: 12
He came. He saw. He conquered. Julius Caesar was a force to be reckoned with as a savvy politician, an impressive orator, and a brave soldier. Born in Rome in 100 BC, he quickly climbed the ladder of Roman politics, making allies–and enemies–along the way. His victories in battle awarded him the support of the people, but flush from power, he named himself dictator for life. The good times, however, would not last much longer. On the Ides of March, Caesar was brutally assassinated by a group of senators determined to end his tyranny, bringing his reign to an end.
Where is the Colosseum? By Jim O’Connor
Book type: historical informational
Pages: 112
Chapters: 12
The Emperor Titus opened the enormous Colosseum in AD 80 to host 100 days of games, and it will astound readers to learn what the ancient Romans found entertaining. Over 50,000 screaming fans watched gladiators battling each other to the death, men fighting exotic wild beasts, and even mock sea battles with warships floating on an arena floor flooded with water. By AD 476 the Roman Empire had fallen, and yet the ruins of the Colosseum remain a world-famous landmark of an unforgettable time.
What Was Pompeii? By Jim O’Connor
Book type: historical informational
Pages: 112
Chapters: 15
The morning of August 24, AD 79, seemed like any other in the Roman city of Pompeii. So no one was prepared when the nearby volcano Mount Vesuvius suddenly erupted, spouting ash that buried the city and its inhabitants. The disaster left thousands dead, and Pompeii was no more than a memory for almost 1,700 years. In 1748, explorers rediscovered the port city with intact buildings and beautiful mosaics. This easy-to-read account is gripping and includes photos of the ruins.
Romans on the Rampage by Jeremy Strong
Book type: historical fiction
Pages: 300
Perilus is a Roman boy who is crazy about chariot racing. He loves to practice 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!
Roman Myths & Legends by Anthony Masters
Book type: mythology
Pages: 46
Action, adventure, magic and the supernatural are the essential elements of the thrilling retelling that make up this Roman mythology collection. Anthony Masters’ dramatic writing opens up an extraordinary world where bizarre creatures roam, battles are fought, and ships are wrecked in storms created by angry gods.
Planning for next year?
Check out these grade-by-grade book lists of engaging, clean, living books to add to your plans:
- 1st Grade Books List
- 2nd Grade Books List
- 3rd Grade Books List
- 4th Grade Books List
- 5th Grade Books List
- 6th Grade Books List
- 7th-8th Grade Books List
- 100 Must-Read Classics for Kids: The Complete Elementary Reading List
Classic Myths to Read Aloud: The Great Stories of Greek and Roman Mythology, Specially Arranged for Children by William F. Russell
Book type: mythology
Pages: 272
Stories: 39
The most complete collection of Greek and Roman myths specially arranged to be read aloud to children aged five to twelve. “Every child deserves this book. Those who do the reading aloud will be enlightened and rewarded, too.”–Edwin Newman Line drawings.
Usborne Internet-Linked Romans by Anthony Marks
Book type: historical informational
Pages: 96
The Romans were pioneers of trade, engineering and government, and founded an empire stretching from northern Europe to North Africa. They created art and literature of great beauty and sports of horrible cruelty. This book looks at the Roman way of life and explores the history of the period in maps, diagrams and pictures.
History News: The Roman News by Andrew Langley
Book type: comedic informational news format
Pages: 32
Stop the presses! What if ancient civilizations had daily newspapers? And they were amusing and compellingly informative? They might just look like this innovative series of historical nonfiction, presented in a unique, kid-friendly format. Life in ancient Rome is presented in the form of a daily newspaper written at the time.
Gladiators (Usborne Young Reading) by Minna Lacey
Book type: non-fiction historical
Pages: 64
Gladiators were brutal fighters who risked their lives in one of the deadliest sports of all time. They performed to huge crowds in stadiums across the Roman Empire. Find out how these savage spectacles first began, who took part in them and how men were trained to become fighting machines.
I don’t teach math anymore! Nicole does that for me and it’s amazing. Read my honest, full review and discover a new way to do math!
Ancient Rome Books for Grades 4-7
Detectives in Togas by Henry Winterfeld
Book type: comedic historical fiction
Pages: 240
Chapters: 25
Yes, Rufus wrote CAIUS IS A DUMBBELL on his tablet at school, but no, he did not break into the schoolroom, did not tie up his teacher, and certainly did not paint his slur about Caius on the Temple of Minerva (even if it is in Rufus’s own handwriting). Rufus is doomed unless his six classmates can find out who is really responsible. Every hour seems to bring a new, confusing clue . . . until the boys finally stumble upon someone who is not what he appears to be.
The Mystery of the Roman Ransom by Henry Winterfeld
Book type: comedic historical fiction
Pages: 240
Chapters: 25
In these two delightful history-mysteries, seven boys in Ancient Rome solve strange crimes . . . thanks to some help from their cranky teacher, a little bit of logic, and a lot of amusing misadventure.
The Young Carthaginian: A Story of the Times of Hannibal by G.A. Henry
Book type: historical fiction
Pages: 275
Chapters: 22
A riveting historical adventure novel set against the backdrop of the Punic Wars between Carthage and Rome. Published in 1887, it follows the journey of Malchus, a young Carthaginian nobleman, as he navigates the complex political intrigues and deadly battles of ancient times. At its core, the novel is a coming-of-age story, as Malchus matures from a spirited youth to a valiant warrior. Henty skillfully weaves historical events into the narrative, providing readers with a vivid portrayal of life in ancient Carthage.
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
Book type: Newberry Award winner historical fiction
Pages: 260
Chapters: 24
The Bronze Bow, written by Elizabeth George Speare (author of The Witch of Blackbird Pond) won the Newbery Medal in 1962. This gripping, action-packed novel tells the story of eighteen-year-old Daniel bar Jamin—a fierce, hotheaded young man bent on revenging his father’s death by forcing the Romans from his land of Israel. Daniel’s palpable hatred for Romans wanes only when he starts to hear the gentle lessons of the traveling carpenter, Jesus of Nazareth. A fast-paced, suspenseful, vividly wrought tale of friendship, loyalty, the idea of home, community . . . and ultimately, as Jesus says to Daniel on page 224: “Can’t you see, Daniel, it is hate that is the enemy? Not men. Hate does not die with killing. It only springs up a hundredfold. The only thing stronger than hate is love.” A powerful, relevant read in turbulent times.
Vita and the Gladiator by Ally Sherrick
Book type: historical fiction
Pages: 165
Chapters: 16
Vita longs to write plays and poetry – but as a high-born girl in Roman Londinium, her fate is sealed: marriage and children. Then her father is murdered, her mother and brother disappear, and Vita flees from a shadowy enemy. Disguised as a slave at the gladiator’s arena, she forges an unlikely bond with Brea, a native Briton gladiatrix – and her wolf. Together, they resolve to discover and bring the killer to justice before Vita’s identity is revealed.
The Ides of April by Mary Ray
Book type: historical fiction mystery
Pages: 165
Chapters: 16
Hylas is young Greek slave in the household of Caius Pomponius, a Roman Senator involved in political schemes. When the senator is found mysteriously murdered, the household slaves (including Hylas and his mother) fall under suspicion. Hylas escapes capture long enough to enlist the aid of a young tribune, Camillus Rufus. The desperate attempt to unravel the threads of the political intrigue carries Camillus into the very presence of Nero and brings Hylas into contact with the new secret sect of Christians.
And one more for the parents…because every homeschooler parent needs some encouraging…
Heading into Homeschool by Amanda Wilson
Book type: How-to non-fiction
Pages: 170
Is homeschooling right for your family? If you’re ready to jump into homeschooling for the first time, this how-to guide by experienced homeschooling mom of four will provide you with ALL THE KNOW-HOW YOU NEED to get started confidently and stress-free. This easy read will walk you step-by-step through your homeschool preparation.
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