Cleopatra

My 7 year-old wanted to be Cleopatra for Halloween, she hadn't heard of her before but she liked the costume so it was a good introduction as to why all this time later this historic woman still ranks notoriety among Disney princesses. This was a good book to highlight the bigger events in Cleopatra's life and cover the confusing transitions of power. I liked that it included a map, though extremely basic, to help anchor the fact that these events took place at a real place and time. I especially liked that the book made it a point that Cleopatra was intelligent and held her own, something that I really want to reinforce with my daughter. It also led to an interesting conversation about how important voting rights are (due to the bit about the assassination of Caesar) and the various reasons why people commit suicide (Antony, Cleopatra and two servants) and how ruthless people can be when they want power (the killing of Cleopatra's eldest son). The book doesn't glamorize any of this, just states it as close to fact and the pictures do not depict anything graphic. For a younger child it might be a bit harder to explain the last half of the book that cover those events. The illustrations are beautiful and my daughter wants me to do her hair like the artist designed rather than the generally accepted straight black hair. She also wants to read the book more than once so she must have found it interesting.

Take it from someone who has been studying the Hellenistic world for over 14 years now (both independently and academically): this book is absolutely fantastic. The fact that the authors present alternative facets of traditionally recorded history is both superb and unique in a children's book. The highlight of the book for me was the Battle of Actium. The authors mention the use of sails aboard Cleopatra's flagship as evidence of her strategy to return of Egypt. This simple fact gets left out of too many Rome-centered works for historians, so I am both surprised and satisfied that it was presented in this glorious picture book. And the pictures themselves are superb. Cleopatra actually looks like Cleopatra: not classically beautiful, but she has that stunning face and strong profile which would have been considered more than glorious in the ancient world. No doubt, my students will enjoy it as much as I have.

I can't find my original book, but this is so nicely Artistic. They cleaned up the story a lot because reading of a Queen who killed her siblings to be Queen of Egypt isn't nice. They did a great job though in explaining her relationship to Ceaser as to not upset little ones. These dicey things are kept low key and pretty classy. Kinda like you hover over a topic but not get too involved...that is the best way to explain to kids who Cleopatra is. I am impressed by how they drew her. Pretty much to how her remaining statues look like.

What I appreciate about Diane Stanley is her honesty in her biographies. It shows up in her book about William Shakespeare as well as in this one, where details about the lives of the people are sketchy. She will include legends attached to her subjects, but will call them out as legends. Her stories have grabbed the attention of even my reluctant reader and her illustrations are beautiful and well matched to her subject.

Great gift. My eleven year old granddaughter just loved it and I thought it was well done.

This biography of Cleopatra for kids was one of our choices for summer reading projects for first grade. While it is a little tough for a first grader to fully comprehend, I sure learned a lot reading it. We will read this again once my son has learned more of the background history about Rome and I think it will be more useful then. It would also be good for older elementary students. The inclusion of maps and a pronunciation guide for names was great, the book is well researched, but the vocabulary is a little too much for younger elementary students.

Very interesting book.

excellent condition. Thank you so much.

Child's book

Lovely book on Cleopatra. Like all books by Diane Stanley there are a lot of pictures and a well written story.

Nice book. Arrived quickly.