Famous Figures of Ancient Times

By Cathy Diez-Luckie
Figures in Motion, $19.95, 96 pages

If you’d like to creatively transport your child from the present to learn about how famous people lived thousands of years ago, then this book is for you. Famous Figures of Ancient Times is the paper version of the movie Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. Children, especially the ones who love craft work, can make these distant civilizations come alive with the help of these movable paper figures and cut-outs which they can also color and assemble. This imaginative book allows children ages 6-12 to perform their own historical re-enactments or even create new stories using famous people from ancient times. As a parent, I personally recommend this book, because it is refreshing and a relief at the same time to finally see pieces of paper figures that do not contain the brand names Bratz, Disney Princess, or Barbie on the front flap cover. The activity book presents 20 prominent historical figures and their brief historical information is presented to its readers in a non-intimidating method.

Author Cathy Liez-Duckie effectively presents these famous figures with illustrations that are based on true period costumes and authentic mosaics paintings. This book is also a great addition to any creative book report, class presentation or history group project. Children will have so much fun making moving action figures of Alexander the Great, Qin Shi Huangdi (who built the Great Wall of China), even Moses and Jesus, that they won’t realize how much they are learning.

Reviewed by Kaye Cloutman