Books in Famous People, Famous Lives series

Five cleverly illustrated books for boys and girls tell true stories about five very unusual children, later recognized by the world as men and women of genius. But before everything else, they were children. And like every child, they loved to play, and to use their imaginations. Today's children will delight in these stories, while they are also introduced to children who grew up and changed our world. Leonardo's father wondered what would become of this little boy, who was interested in so many things. Maybe, in to many things! Sometimes he drew pictures, sometimes he studied insects and animals, sometimes he even studied the way that the wind blew. "Won't he ever settle down to one interest?" Leonardo's father wondered. But Leonardo never changed. He grew up to be an artist... a scientist... an inventor... In other words, a genius!

Each title in this series tells the story of a man or woman whose dedication to their chosen cause led to changes that affect all our lives today. Each includes a vivid description of the world in which the famous person lived. This vivid narrative tells of how, two thousand years ago, when the Romans invaded Britain, not everyone went down without a fight. The book paints a picture of a wild Britain, of oppressed peoples and how one brave woman defied the might of Rome. Readers learn of how both the Romans and British lived, how they organised themselves, and how different peoples treated each other Brilliant line illustrations bring to life the excitement of battle and also the harshness and tragedy of defeat. The book is a handy companion to those readers learning about the Romans in Key Stage 2.