Hannibal of Carthage

December 1, 2013

Gr 4-8-In these conversational first-person narratives, journal entries detail and document the subjects' lives, major battles, conquests, failures, and accomplishments. Through the use of vivid, descriptive language, readers become a part of the period. The books include the rulers' births and lives, family background, education, and rise to fame and glory, and conclude with their downfalls and brief summaries of their deaths and what happened later. The people liked Julius Caesar, yet he was assassinated due to his pride and ambition. Hannibal led his powerful armies in numerous battles but eventually found himself sought by the Romans, killing himself to avoid capture. Alexander the Great demonstrated great strength and skill in fighting and warfare. Each man had a powerful desire for battle and used clever strategies to succeed. Readers learn about the countries, the cities, the brutality of war, and the paths to power. The attractive layout includes text boxes explaining historical references made within the journals, quotes, maps, drawings, color photos of statues, busts, artwork, ruins, etc. Pages printed on a papyruslike background and the use of a variety of fonts contribute to the appealing presentations. It's unfortunate that no sources are listed.-Susan Shaver, Hemingford Public Schools, NE

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.