Explore 360°: Pompeii

Gr 3–7—This attractive title is a graphic catalog of the well-preserved ruins of the doomed city of Pompeii. The work uses full- and half-page color photographs, historical paintings, mosaics, and computer-generated graphics to create an immersive experience of everyday Roman life. Colorful spreads present settings such as a bakery, a bath house, and a dining room. Vongprachanh's digital renderings of Roman architecture are spectacular. Full-color gatefolds of the peristyle garden in the House of the Faun and the exercise grounds of the Stabian Baths provide large-scale reconstructions of Roman architecture. The work also exhibits preserved murals of landscapes and portraits, such as the garden scene at the House of the Golden Bracelet and the dining scene at the House of the Chaste Lovers. Readers learn about numerous artifacts, including statuary, coinage, ceramics, and domestic utensils. The writing is slightly less compelling compared with the robust images, with scattered paragraphs giving voice to the visuals. Short primary source references are included, and explanatory captions accompany photos of archaeological remains. Introductory pages provide background into the volcanic disaster and subsequent preservation of the city. The popular "Eyewitness Books" (DK) contain more text, but this title soars visually. An accompanying CD provides three-dimensional reconstructions of six Pompeiian architectural spaces, making it a great addition that will interest even the most reluctant students.