Ancient Greece

Gr 3–5—Presented in very short chapters, this kid-friendly glimpse into ancient Greece covers a variety of aspects, from politics, religion, the arts, philosophy, and everyday life to Greece's lasting contributions to modern society. The book attempts to engage young readers by presenting history in an appealing format. The cartoonlike art is entertaining and full of appeal. However, the visuals are not enough to carry the book, and the absence of an index and other common nonfiction attributes limits its usefulness for reports, making this a pleasure read. In addition, a brief retelling of the myth of Pandora's box names Epimetheus, not Pandora, as the one responsible for opening the forbidden box—an odd change from the more widely circulated version. With that in mind, the accuracy of the rest of the book is brought into question, especially considering that the most recent print source listed in the bibliography was published 12 years ago. Those seeking an entertaining approach to nonfiction should look for Will Osborne's "Magic Tree House Fact Tracker," Ken Jenning's "Junior Genius Guides," or Grosset & Dunlap's "What Was/Who Was" series.