Famous Figures of Ancient Times

Product Description (from Amazon.com)

Make Your Own Action Figures From Ancient History! Make history come alive in Ancient Egypt, Greece, China, Rome, and Jerusalem! Cut-and-color or pre-coloered action figures really move as you play out the lives of Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, King David, Jesus, Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi, Hannibal (and his elephant!) and other - or make up your own stories about these powerful men whose fame has lasted for thousands of years. Yes, they really move! Move their arms and legs, use their swords and shields, and act out their stories at home or at school - over and over again. History has never been so much fun! Emperors! Conquerors! Philosophers! These 20 people shaped history - and our world today. Yes, you can also read about their amazing lives, right in this book. Attention Teachers and Parents: use this book to reinforce the wonder of history and to support any ancient history curriculum through hands-on activities. Note: Your child will need a hole punch and inexpensive fasteners (available at stationary or craft stores-please see resources page)

About the Author (from Amazon.com)

Cathy Diez-Luckie, internationally published airbrush artist, has illustrated three children s books for Richard C. Owen Publishers, Inc.: Goodbye Goose, Kitty Goes Splash, and The Paper Bag. She has contributed to professional illustrator references including The Encyclopedia of Airbrush Techniques and The Encyclopedia of Illustration Techniques, and has been published in numerous magazines. Trained at the Toledo Museum of Art and the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Cathy also holds a graduate degree from Stanford University. A lifetime lover of both history and art, she is currently at work on four more Famous Figures books.

MY REVIEW

I think this is a very clever book for helping kids learn history. There is a lot of cutting involved which is hard for some kids but other than that the figures are very easy to make. I liked that the kids have the option of using a pre-coloured figure or one they can colour themselves. The pre-coloured ones are very well done, bright and colourful. I also found the brief description of each character (found in the front of the book) very helpful ... apparently I don't remember all of the history I learned in school :)

This book would probably be very useful in a homeschooling situation. All three of my kids liked making the figures and playing with them. My daughter is a little young and managed to rip the arm off of hers pretty fast. My sons thought they were cool and it was good for a few minutes of entertainment and a brief history lesson. If you are looking for creative ways to teach history then check Famous Figures of Ancient Times out.