Fred in Ancient Rome

“Engagingly told, informative, and packed with additional details. A comprehensive reference section in the appendix, including a timeline and glossary. Vivid, expressive and aesthetically pleasing colour illustrations. Highly recommended. Thanks to its authentic descriptions, it is also well-suited for research on the subject of gladiators, making it a particular recommendation for school libraries.” – Sybille Mohnhoff, ekz Library Service

“As with the previous volumes in the series, Fred in Ancient Rome – In the Shadow of the Colosseum stands out for many reasons: a gripping story, a likeable protagonist, fascinating factual information and stunning illustrations. […] Alongside conveying historically verified facts, Uhlenbrock excels at capturing a unique atmosphere and depicting the characters and their emotions in such a way that readers feel as though they are right in the heart of ancient Rome. Birge Tetzner’s style of storytelling also contributes to this. After a short factual chapter that retells the legend of Rome’s founding in an exciting way, the narrative jumps to the present day and the reader meets Fred for the first time, who has just arrived in Rome. […] Together with Fred, you explore the Via dei Fori Imperiali and the Roman Forum, whilst Fred’s grandfather entertainingly teaches you about Roman history without disrupting the story’s plot. […] Things get particularly exciting when Fred slips into the past and, dressed in a tunic, toga and sandals, suddenly finds himself in ancient Rome. And right in the middle of a gladiatorial contest! This moment is depicted with great suspense through text and illustration and can entice even children to read who primarily need external plot tension to build up their motivation to read. […] By this point at the latest, all listeners or readers will want to know what happens next to the boy, and in the process will learn plenty of interesting facts about life in ancient Rome. After 170 pages, Fred’s adventure comes to an end, but fortunately the book does not. The remaining 60 pages are packed with additional informative texts about the Roman Empire […] A real gem for history lovers of all ages, but also for children and adults who not only want to immerse themselves in a story but also wish to learn something about a long-gone culture in the process. With its solid academic grounding, this volume also brings the past to life and inspires a passion for history – what more could one ask for from a writing duo, apart from the release of a new Fred book soon?” – Barbara Reidelshöfer, boys & books