Ancient Warriors

by Iris Volant

Tracing the history of warriors from the Stone Age all the way up to the Crusades, fascinating facts and insights into tactics from the battlefield are revealed alongside kid-friendly, detailed illustrations. Delve into the lives of Alexander the Great, Joan of Arc, and Genghis Kahn. Follow the stories of Celtic warriors, Shaolin Monks, Vikings, Knights, and Samurai, all while learning about weaponry such as sword fighting, bow and arrows, martial arts and even poisonous beetles!

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Historical, Picture Books, Childrens, Middle Grade

64 pages, Hardcover

Published August 7, 2018

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book, because of the lovely cover. For some reason, I thought it was a whole book of women warriors. And while there were women warriors, as shown below, they were the exception, rather than the rule.



The rest of the book was about the usual warriors, such as Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, and Hannibal Barca, (as in the Hannibal that took elephants over the Alps to attack Rome).

Very informative discussion of weapons, and famous battles, such as Crécy, where the British beat the French with their long bowmen.

This would be of great interest to children and adults, that want to dip their toes into some of the cooler bits of ancient history.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Alice, as in Wonderland · Rating 3 out of 5]

My only major issue is that it could have used more stuff outside of the Eurasian continent. The Mayan and Egyptian are as more widespread as it gets, but I suppose it just reflects the constant limitation of how we teach world history all the time. It's a fair cop, but society is to blame.

[Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quality Rating: Four Stars
Enjoyment Rating: Four Stars

An enjoyable, if sparse, little book looking at Ancient Warriors from across the world. Joe Lillington's illustrations are stunning, and Volant focuses on a good variety and selection of battles, leaders and cultures, though the whole thing feels rather randomly put together. Organised chronologically, it jumps back and forth across the world where a map could've been really helpful especially for the younger audiences this book is targeted at. It also felt a bit like we kept going back to Rome, Arabia and China since they historically have prestigious battle renown, but it felt even more jumbled up in the end because of it. A little more educational graphic design or organisation with the general layout of the book would've made it a five-star piece.

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating glimpses of warriors (both male and female!) around the world. The focus switches from individuals to armies to specific battles, each described in a two-page spread, illustrated with appealing pictures. Good global coverage. I wish the book had included sources and suggestions for where readers could go to find more information. But still, I know this will be a favorite with 3rd-5th grade students.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with fascinating nuggets about great warriors, powerful armies, and potent weapons, Ancient Warriors is a wildly enjoyable read. Nearly every page held some new piece of information for me, even when the text was about a well-known individual like Alexander the Great. I especially appreciated the diversity on offer - not solely focused on Western armies or male warriors. Joe Lillington's clear, detailed art paired well with Volant's crisp paragraphs.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent overview of warriors, battles, armor, and weapons of the past. I especially liked that female warriors were included.

[Lo Wayward Tomes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these kinds of books I just wish it would have more people outside of the super popular ones. There were maybe 3 that I had never heard of and they weren't very in depth.

[Dax · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful and informative. Does a great job of intriguing the reader to go and research more.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was beautiful and I loved how the author would choose another wonder after one of the official ones. It was too grown up for K though. Recommended.

[S46354595 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book. I only wish it was longer!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

A majority of the text was missing from my preview copy, but it has good potential. I liked the illustrations and kids will find it interesting.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

[J.D. DeHart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is clearly and brightly illustrated with detail. The pictures pair well with readable descriptions.

I would gladly add this book to my classroom bookshelf and recommend it as an engaging text for young readers.

[Mostly Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick little read, but my boys and I loved it! The illustrations are so great! Definitely need to buy a hard copy for our schools library! Celtic warriors, Shaolin Monks, Vikings, oh my! My son loved learning about all the different warriors, and their weapons. This was all in a kid friendly way of course! Great, little read for your little ones!