Pompeii . . . Buried Alive!

by Edith Kunhardt, Michael Eagle (Illustrator)

Bursting with real-life drama, here's a moment-by-moment account--the only one for beginning readers--of the famous eruption of Mount Vesuvius. A Step Into Reading Book. Full-color illustrations.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Childrens, 2nd Grade, Ancient History, Science

48 pages, Library Binding

First published September 1, 1987

About the author

Also known as Edith Kunhardt Davis, she inspired her mother to write Pat the Bunny. She later wrote books herself, including sequels to her mother's classic children's book. She also illustrated 16 books.

Reviews

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review by grandson Andrew (age 8)

This was a very interesting book, and it had good illustrations. I like learning about history. That must have been really scary. I hope it doesn't erupt ever again.

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My older 4 homeschoolers read this when young. (They are now ages 25-20!) I just read this to the middles and littles tonight. It’s a classic.

[Prae · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is interesting. It shows something which happened in Pompeii (a town in Italy). Pompeii looked peaceful! (I saw in the pictures.) But the mountain was really a volcano. I felt sad and I pitied the people in Pompeii when I learned about what happened when the volcano erupted. The giant was waking up! Everyone began to scream. :( People’s homes were destroyed by the ash which fell from the sky. They had to get out of Pompeii. The ashes fell on Pompeii for two days. Then it was over. Today if a person visits Italy, he or she can go to Pompeii and walk through the streets of this ancient city. I recommend this book to people who like to travel, people who are interested in volcanos, and people who like to learn about history.

[Jebbeh Fahnbulleh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because the scientists try how to found the town name pompeii and how the vesuvius erupted the town of pompeii the scientists was so excited to found the town name pompeii when the scientists was digging they found some pictures called mosaics and they also found some people who was died. In this book the people of pompeii didn't know that they have a town name pompeii they where busy haveing so much fun they didn't know that some thing terrible was happen in pompeii.One day piny was watching the strange cloud and how the hot ashes and pebbles kell some people in pompeii. when piney was grewing up become a writer he wrote about how volcano buried pompeii. this is the best book ever.

[Laura (Book Scrounger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still remember this from my school years. I suppose it was one of the first "disaster stories" I read, and the story of the discovery of Pompeii's ruins also highlights the fascinating rewards of archaeology (similar to Tut's Mummy: Lost...And Found).

[Lady reading under the Willow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: does include a page spread of drawings of a skeleton, a plaster cast of a victim, and a plaster cast of a dog who died in Pompeii. The skeleton is a little creepy, mostly because its jaw is gaping.

[Cam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summer read with the kids. This book was surprisingly repetitive and easy for a step up 4 book but it was informative.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last "classic" I'm reviewing in this series, was written the same year as Titanic ... Lost and Found. These easy readers often go out of print very quickly and it says much when one can keep in print for well over twenty years. Pompeii tells the story of the fateful day that Mount Vesuvius erupted from the perspective of what it must have been like to have seen what was happening had you been there. A detailed, gripping story that captures the imagination and could possibly send the reader into further exploration of the topic. Even more intriguing is the jump ahead in time to when Pompeii has been buried and forgotten and Pliny's writings are being read then builders discover walls in the ground. Eventually more of buried Pompeii is unearthed and a full-scale archaeological dig is underway. The book explains this process until it reaches the historical, museum-like, tourist site, we have today. The book ends warning that Vesuvius could erupt again at any time. Due to the age of the book I checked the current information on this and found a very recent article, Sept. 2013, in which Japanese scientists presented to a volcano conference in Italy that Vesuvius "could erupt again at any time" and the Italian government must have a suitable disaster plan drawn up. So the books information is still very current up to today. The only problem I have with this easy reader is that the writing is not quite as good as the previous ones I've recommended as it does talk down to the reader in a way that could easily have been avoided.

[Julesmarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has the perfect amount of information for a basic introduction to Pompeii. It covers everything from how the citizens were unaware that Mount Vesuvius was a volcano, to the initial earthquakes, through the various stages of the eruption itself. It then goes on to tell how Pompeii was buried and lost for centuries, and then discusses the rediscovery and the beginnings of the excavation.

What I appreciated most about this book were the illustrations of the structure of a volcano and of Pompeii buried under layers of lava and rock and dirt. I've found other books which better illustrate the ruins and provide actual pictures of the buildings and mosaics and frescoes which have been uncovered. I've not found a better way to help my students visualize the tremendous pressure building up in the volcano before the eruption nor how a city can be lost. Lovely illustrations!

The writing is intended for younger students than mine, but the illustrations make this book invaluable in the Pompeii lessons of my ancient Rome unit.

[Sara Ullery · Rating 5 out of 5]

• This book is a great choice for beginners. It tells the story of Pompeii in a way children can understand. And get excited about history
• Teachers may use this book for History, Reading, Science
• Ages 7-9 Grades 2-4
• Individual students may read this book to themselves during center time. It will enhance their knowledge of the history of Pompeii and academic reading skills.
• Small groups may read this together and then write their own summaries of the story.
• A whole class may use this book to create a science project of a volcano and city. Then watch it erupt!!
• This book is Nonfiction
• It is available in libraries, bookstores, Ebooks.

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

My most recent student was so interested in this book, I think he exceeded his reading level in his eagerness to discover all it had to offer! Well written, engaging text with compelling line drawings illuminate Vesuvius' destruction of the ancient town for young readers. We will keep it around for years, though, because even older students with little time can grasp a good summary of events from this title. A home school super star title, highly recommended.

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Pompeii... Buried Alive!" by Edith Kunhardt Davis is a captivating historical picture book that vividly recounts the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the destruction of the ancient city of Pompeii in 79 AD. The book provides a detailed narrative of life in Pompeii before the eruption, the terrifying volcanic event, and the subsequent burial of the city under layers of volcanic ash and pumice. Through rich illustrations and engaging text, Davis effectively conveys the dramatic events and daily life of the Roman citizens affected by the disaster.

Teaching Idea: This book is suitable for grades 4-6, particularly in social studies or science lessons focusing on natural disasters and ancient civilizations. Teachers can use the book to introduce students to Roman history and the impact of volcanic eruptions. An interactive classroom activity could involve students creating a timeline of the eruption and its aftermath, using art supplies to draw scenes from Pompeii before and after the disaster. This project helps students visualize historical events and understand the significance of the eruption, fostering both historical empathy and scientific inquiry.

[Laura Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was part of my daughter's second grade LA materials. She loved it! My favorite part was that it actually gave her the pronunciations for the hard words. So she was able to correctly figure them out on her own. This was a great confidence booster.

This book also stemmed quite a few conversations! Thankfully I have pictures from my travels that we could go to and discuss to expand the discussions. The book also takes the reader from before the explosion to present day. It is good for the kids to see how scientists evaluate dig sites. The book is a good one and I recommend.

[Jessica Erwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grades 2-4
Genre: Informational Non-fiction

Pompeii Buried Alive tells the story of how the volcano Vesuvius erupted and literally buried the whole town. I think this book could help students learn of another culture and how/what a volcano is. This book could also help teachers talk about fossils etc. because of how the town was discovered in later years. Overall, this book is an easy read and is interesting.

[Sammy Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has heavily impacted me as a child well into adulthood. 20 years later reading as an adult has brought out the childhood love for the story of Pompeii.

The story of Pompeii is about a volcano’s sudden eruption, killing thousands of people who lived on Mount Vesuvius. It follows the lives of the people. People coming to sell things, fishermen bringing fish, farmers bringing vegetables, and shepherd bringing sheep. No one in the town suspects the fate that is bestowed upon them. After being buried alive, the volcanic ashes fell on Pompeii for 2 days. Ashes cooled and became hard, but what they find years later still chokes me up a bit.

A great easy read for adults, and a great educational story for children. It really is a great versatile book that can be read 10, 20, 30… years down the road.

[Elise G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so cool. It is about how the Pompeii volcano erupted and what was happening and how nobody knew what was happening. And then what happened when the volcano erupted, they called it the sleeping giant awoke. And it was such a cool book. If you are interested in science and volcanoes I think you should read this book. As you know, it is so cool.

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brief and simple look at the natural volcanic disaster that wiped out Pompeii all those years ago, and seems to have spawned books and movies of all types, usually with masculine characters and drippy leading ladies, but this one is just telling the tale and does not come with the same sense of melodrama.

[Annette Alden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just found out on Goodreads the author inspired her mother to write Pat the Bunny, which was one of my first books. She then wrote some more of them, like "Daddy's Scratchy Face." I chose to read this to see how much detail it would go into about Pompeii. I thought it was a good introduction to teach younger children about what happened to the village of Pompeii.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a long time ago. The date finished is just a vague guess. The book gets five stars because I read it several times, and the story really stuck with me. Great for elementary school ages.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age appropriate telling of what happened at Pompeii. Some children may be frightened or anxious about the same fate happening to them, but we have technology now that helps us not be surprised so many lives can be saved, even if Vesuvius wakes up again.

[Elly Malone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: historical fiction
Grade Level: 2-3

I've always been fascinated with Pompeii. This book tells the real history in the form of a story. Children won't realize that it's as informational as it is, but it's in the form of a storybook. I enjoyed it.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My second-grade son found this book both interesting and exciting. He also found he could read it on his own and fully comprehend it. Perfect.

[Megan B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will, Nick

[Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

P announced today that this is one of his favorite books!

[Coony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book only during the commuting time this morning. I knew next to nothing about the history of Pompei, so this story was interesting.

[Good · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent children’s reader, vocab on 4th grade level. Good pictures; carefully worded about all the death.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

AR 3.2

[Aloj · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quite simple first reader's. Nice drawings!

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent nonfiction book about Pompeii for kids learning to read. I read it to my 7 & 8 year old littles (who were already familiar with the basics about Pompeii). They enjoyed it.

[Noelani · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars given by 7-year old. She said it wasn’t exactly what she expected. She thought Pompeii would be a person instead of a place. Due to her disappointment, 4 stars.