937

I have mixed feelings about this informational picture book about Julius Caesar. First, I liked the graphical elements such as how the author added timelines, fact files, quotes, and image annotations. However, I don’t like how this makes reading the biography so difficult. Each page contains a lot of information, which is very overwhelming and can be a distraction to the reader. Second, I like how to author included timelines. Since it is an informational text, the timelines quickly summarize the important events of Rome and Julius Caesar. For example, in 57 BC, “Caesar subdued the Belgic people in northern Gaul. Crassus, his ally, conquered Normandy and Brittany.” Lastly, I like the content. The author did a great job of including all the elements of Julius Caesar’s life as a powerful leader. There is also additional information about Rome and its cultural history. For example, the author included annotations on luxury and glamour of wealthy Romanians, street life of Rome, and various temples and home shrines that were an important part of religion of Roman life. This gives reader background information that they might not have known before reading this book. The big idea of this book is power, leadership and betrayal of friendship, which led to Rome’s desire for revenge of their leader’s death. ( )