Book Review of The Histronauts: A Greek Adventure
The Children’s Book Review
The Histronauts: A Greek Adventure
Written by Frances Durkin
Illustrated by Grace Cooke
Ages: 7-10 | 88 Pages
Publisher: Jolly Fish Press (2021) | ISBN-13: 9781631636776
What to Expect: History, Ancient Greece, Adventure, Interactive, and Graphic Novel.
In this graphic novel, readers can explore history through both story and illustration. Blending a time-travel adventure with facts and activities, The Histronauts encourages readers to experience ancient life for themselves.
Histronauts Luna, Newton, Nani, and Hero (the cat) are on holiday in Greece, exploring the ancient ruins of a theater. When Luna trips and takes a tumble, the Histronauts find an unusual ticket on the ground—and suddenly, they are transported back in time to the heart of ancient Athens! The theatre is no longer a ruin; instead, it is filled with actors getting ready for a play, and one of them is eager to show the newcomers everything there is to see in his magnificent city. Following his lead, they visit the Agora for something to eat, see amphorae being made, and even get a taste of Ancient Greek home life. All in all, it’s an exciting day!
Comic-style illustrations in a muted palette of earthtones bring classical art and landscapes to life on the page, while figures, charts, and lists teach readers about Greek monuments, vocabulary, myths, and even Greek numbers and the Greek alphabet. Interspersed throughout the story are a range of interactive activities, including making a skyphos pot, cooking lentil soup, and weaving.
Short, light, and accessible, The Histronauts: A Greek Adventure is a great way to keep a young history enthusiast busy for an afternoon.
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About the Author
Frances Durkin is a historian and a dedicated castle visitor. She can usually be found in the library surrounded by stacks of books that she can’t wait to read.
Dr. Jen Harrison reviewed The Histronauts: A Greek Adventure. Discover more books like The Histronauts: A Greek Adventure by reading our reviews and articles tagged with ancient Greece, history, adventure, and interactive.
