Fiction

The Assassins of Rome by Caroline Lawrence. (Roaring Brook, 2002)
The Roman Mysteries series. Flavia and Nubia follow their friend Jonathan on a secret mission to Rome and the Golden House of Emperor Nero.

Atticus of Rome, 30 B.C. by Barry Denenberg. (Scholastic, 2004)
Sold into slavery by Roman soldiers, Atticus uncovers a plot to murder the emperor, and finds his father, now a gladiator.

Detectives in Togas by Henry Winterfield. (Harcourt, 2002)
Rufus may make mischief, but he is not a robber or defiler of the Temple of Minerva. It's up to his classmates to prove his innocence.

Galen, My Life in Imperial Rome by Marissa Moss. (Silver Whistle, 2002)
This notebook-style book combines fact and fiction in telling the story of a 12-year-old slave.

Rome Antics by David Macaulay. (Houghton Mifflin, 1997)
A homing pigeon provides a bird's eye view of the most famous constructions of the ancient Romans.

See You Later, Gladiator! by Jon Scieszka. (Puffin, 2002)
Can the Trio make it through gladiator school and win in the Coliseum?

The Silver Branch by Rosemary Sutcliffe. (Farrar, 1993)
Two cousins join the Roman army to fight against a cruel British leader.

The Thieves of Ostia by Caroline Lawrence. (Roaring Brook, 2001)
The Roman Mysteries series. Flavia, a sea captain's daughter, is determined to discover who is killing dogs in first-century Rome.

Nonfiction

The Ancient City: Life in Classical Athens and Rome by Peter Connolly and Hazel Dodge. (Oxford University Press, 2000)
A description of everyday life in classical Greece and ancient Rome, illustrated with full-color drawings.

Ancient Rome by Simon James. (DK, 2000)
Eyewitness Reference series. This book provides information about ancient Rome through drawings, maps, photographs, and captions.

Ancient Rome Revealed by Peter Chrisp. (DK, 2003)
Transparent overlays show the inside story of the Roman Empire at its height of power.

Emperors and Gladiators by Anita Ganeri. (Peter Bedrick Books, 2001)
Investigate some of the job opportunities open to the ancient Roman citizens, from soothsayer to vestal virgin.

Gladiator by Richard Watkins. (Houghton Mifflin, 2000)
This book offers an in-depth look at the lives of gladiators.

Gladiator's Secret by John Malam. (Gareth Stevens, 2004)
This fictional story about a young museum volunteer on a fact-finding trip to Europe includes pictures, diagrams, and facts about a gladiator's life.

The Roman Colosseum by Elizabeth Mann. (Mikaya Press, 1998)
A look at ancient Roman civilization as embodied by the Colosseum and its famous games.

The Roman News by Andrew Langley. (Gareth Stevens, 2000)
Presents details of daily life in ancient Rome in a humorous newspaper format.

Spend the Day in Ancient Rome: Projects and Activities That Bring the Past to Life by Linda Honan. (Wiley, 1998)
Ideas for crafts and other activities that give readers a taste of life in Rome, A.D. 125.

You Wouldn't Want to Be a Roman Gladiator! Gory Things You'd Rather Not Know by John Malam. (Franklin Watts, 2000)
This light-hearted book offers facts about gladiators with cartoon illustrations.

Poetry

Ancient Rome by Susan Altman and Susan Lechner. (Scholastic, 2001)
Buildings, residents, and activities of ancient Rome are the inspiration for 27 brief poems.