Y4 DS loves the ancient world - what books would you recommend?

[Gruffalowings]

DS is in Y4 and is into all things Ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman.

I am not sure if I have got the right Topic, but mumsnet always have such good book recommendations for young people.

What would you suggest?

Who let the gods out?

I may be a bit out of touch here but I (30 years ago!) used to love the Horrible Histories books. They do ones about the ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians I’m sure.

The Roman mysteries

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Roman-Mysteries-Epic-Books-Collection/dp/1510108831/ref=asc_df_1510108831/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=599286107683600884&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9193760&hvtargid=pla-2281435177818&psc=1&mcid=0def4ae5a13f3e2d94758e02c3d51841&hvocijid=599286107683600884-1510108831-&hvexpln=74&gad_source=1

Do you mean fiction or non-fiction @Gruffalowings?

For fiction:

• The Percy Jackson series (and many follow-ons) by Rick Riordan
• The Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence

Also, an oldie but a goodie
Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliffe

Cross-post @EducatingArti 😂

Horrible Histories for sure. DS absolutely loved Percy Jackson and learnt so much from those.

Oh this is my area of expertise as DD (13) is obsessed with Classics.
Start with Percy Jackson series and Horribe Histories (PJ is better). Then once hes finished those move on to Heroes of Olympus then Trials of Apollo series. All by Rick Riordan and all brilliant.
She said that should take at least 18 months - 2 years to get through all of those and then he could move on to Stephen Fry Mythos series in Yr 6.

My dd in Y4 loves the “so you think you’ve got it bad” series by British museum/nosy crow. There’s 7 of them including an Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome and ancient Egypt

The Paninis of Pompeii, by Andy Stanton - if he's got an offbeat sense of humour

Dominic Sandbrook's Adventures in Time books: one on Alexander and one on Cleopatra. Tom Holland's one on Sparta: The Wolf Girl.

This series. There are four of them plus activity books. There’s other books that I can’t remember now but I’ll come back if I do.

DC was similarly obsessed, now studying Classics at uni and planning on making a career out of it.

There's a brilliant podcast called Greeking Out that my 8 year old loves.

My DD is obsessed with mythology - mainly Greek - agree with others to get into the worlds of Rick Riordan (the new TV show on Disney is great fun too, the films less so though DD enjoys them). Matt Ralph has done 3 books published by DK that looks at greek, Egyptian and Norse mythology and are great entry level books. My DD likes listening to Mythos on Audible.

Viking Voyagers is a gorgeous book - we've bought for quite a few of DD's friends too and all love it.

www.amazon.co.uk/Viking-Voyagers-Jack-Tite/dp/1787419398/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=1SCII38RCZPP1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.FS599XAoU2Lb7k9F0PI0nKsY8aek4uFTw42S4nmFVLdY1NmKRPS4nt9PrKCFYcUlqB97qqSwRuF4Uy3AnW-yf97ZRzZ5GvO6BvoweNjIIRG2tAmBQ5eOR7yH0lFkNuyVy4dIj2UiSDvKGBeG5TY-dCM1mOTBgQWtKj7VDmemBn713ff6o6Zl48Scpa_SwSCq0EMJGmtrh_FuasgmE_DVVg.1OqNqtZXR_OI8T-yS9R6pJYEi08HzLTD9gqJ-i5ruRs&dib_tag=se&keywords=viking+voyagers&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1730534993&sprefix=viking+voy%2Caps%2C107&sr=8-1

@banhmi thanks for this recommendation I think DD will seriously love this!!

My eldest started with the Percy Jackson series… We loved all of Rick Riordan’s books. She ended up studying Greek and Latin at a Gymnasium Highschool in Europe, the clever clogs. I put her dexterity with language down to these books.

I can’t believe how quickly all these brilliant recommendations have come in!

Thank you, Mumsnet! There are so many here that I had no idea about … lucky DS.

Egyptology is a brilliant non-fiction book for that age-group.

My DS loved the Beast of Olympus: Beast Keeper series.

Any of the Usborne See Inside books. They do ones on Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece and Ancient Egypt.

Also, not a book but if you're in or around London then I can thoroughly recommend the Horizon of Khufu virtual reality tour inside the Great Pyramid.

My similar son (a bit older now) has read all the Rick Riordan books several times, the DK book of Greek Myths and the Horrible Histories.

There is also a fab podcast called 'Greeking Out'.

The Iliad: A Graphic Novel by Gareth Hinds is great (as are all the other recommendations that have flooded in already!)

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/365195298936?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=JuumZthaThC&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=yzwA501cSWC&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

There is also one for The Odyssey!

Others have mentioned ones I would have, but my son also loves these beautifully illustrated stories of the Greek, Egyptian and Norse myths. Out of the Rick Riordan books the ones with the Egyptian Gods are particularly good. The Greeking Out podcast a few have mentioned is great too. Kept us entertained to France and back this summer.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Egyptian-Myths-Goddesses-Pharaohs-Ancient/dp/0241538734/ref=asc_df_0241538734?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697227917691&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9933787077215111870&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006928&hvtargid=pla-1485162261982&psc=1&mcid=0847ff286a833fdba34349f19b1eb0dd&th=1&psc=1&gad_source=1&dplnkId=4cdc17d3-0366-4f78-a5a5-951ab0fb5ca4&nodl=1

This was my absolute favourite book at about the same age, set in ancient Egypt: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Golden-Goblet-Eloise-Jarvis-McGraw-ebook/dp/B0BG93XZ3Y/

There is a huge book called Timeslines of Everything

it’s remarkable especially for kids!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Smithsonian-Timelines-Everything-DK/dp/1465474935/

I recommend this book because it’s so visual. DC was obsessed with Ancient Greeks and the Roman Empire. This book sparked an interest into Mayans, Aztecs, Kings & Queens and now the Industrial Revolution.

it’s pretty epic 😁 it’s the book that keeps on giving!