In cartoon panels, the inimitable Williams offers snapshots of ancient Rome from the mythological creation of the universe to the fall of the empire. --Kirkus Reviews These busy cartoons range from minuscule to full-page and always invite close inspection. Crammed within, readers will find miniature charts, tiny maps, overhead diagrams of outdoor areas, lessons on daily life, and plenty of modern snark. It's an usual conceit pulled off quite well--by employing Dormeo as a humorous narrator, Williams is able to present atrocities imposed upon the lower classes of Roman people without overwhelming readers. Lots and lots of information here; prepare for this book to be renewed at least once. --Booklist Filled with humor and a bit of attitude, this latest venture for Williams will engage even the most reluctant young readers. An excellent addition to a history or classics curriculum. --School Library Journal Williams' slim, richly illustrated account of Roman history will .

do the trick for middle-grade students with an enthusiasm for ancient (or at least very, very early) history. --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books.