Pompeii Lost and Found

By Mary Pope Osborne, Illustrated by Bonnie Christensen

The famous eruption of Mount Vesuvius that ended life in Pompeii and buried the town has long been a fascinating moment in history for children. This book presents that dramatic story with brief text and stunning frescoes using the same colors, style, and technique as the ancient frescoes unearthed there. In addition to the destruction of the city and the rediscovery of the ruins nearly 1,700 years later, this book shows what daily life was like in this prosperous Roman town in the year 79 A.D. 

What Was Pompeii?

By Jim O’Connor, Illustrated by John Hinderliter

The morning of August 24, A.D. 79, seemed like any other in the Roman city of Pompeii. So, no one was prepared when the nearby volcano Mount Vesuvius suddenly erupted, spouting ash that buried the city and its inhabitants. The disaster left thousands dead, and the city was no more than a memory for almost 1,700 years. In 1748, explorers rediscovered Pompeii with intact buildings and beautiful mosaics. This easy-to-read account is gripping and includes photos of the ruins. 

Escape From Pompeii

By Christina Balit

Tranio, like most Roman boys, likes to watch whatever is going on: tradesmen selling their goods, ships unloading their exotic cargoes, politicians making speeches in the forum. But one hot August day a very different scene unfolds. The ground begins to shake, the sky to darken. People run gasping for air. Heading for the harbor. Tranio and his friend Livia hide on a boat and witness one of the most terrifying moments in recorded history — the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the destruction of their beloved city, Pompeii. 

Pompeii Buried Alive

By Edith Kunhardt, Illustrated by Michael Eagle

A Step 4 history reader, “The drama of natural disasters provides prime material to entice young independent readers. In this book, the account of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius describes village life 2,000 years ago, the eruption itself and its aftermath, and the excitement when the buried town is rediscovered centuries later — Publishers Weekly 

You Wouldn’t Want to Live in Pompeii

By John Malam, Illustrated by David Antram

Get ready…as a trusted slave in a quiet Roman town in 79 CE, you’re about to undergo the most terrifying experience of your life. You’ll never forget what its like to live in Pompeii. Find out all about the horrible fate of the residents, what remains of the town today, and how Vesuvius’s victims were preserved for eternity. 

The Pompeii Disaster

By Dan Gutman

Eccentric billionaire Miss Z is sending Luke, Julia, David, and Isabel on another mission back in time to capture one of history’s most important events.

This time, the Flashback Four are headed to AD 79 to photograph the eruption of Mount Vesuvius! Can the Flashback Four get their photo and get back home before they become ancient history?

With real photographs from Pompeii to help put young readers right in the action, plus back matter that separates fact from fiction, The Pompeii Disaster tells the story of one of the world’s most devastating natural disasters like you’ve never seen it before.

Explore 360° Pompeii: Be Transported Back in Time With Breathtaking 3D Tour

By Peter Crisp and Dr. Hannah Platts

More than 1,900 years ago, the Roman city of Pompeii was frozen in time when the massive eruption of Mt. Vesuvius buried the city, and everyone in it, under layers of ash. Millions are gripped by this dramatic story of the sudden destruction of the town, and the fascinating preservation of the people and animals who were there when it happened. This book offers an in-depth look at life there before, during, and after the eruption. 

Pompeii

By Peter Connolly

This book is a comprehensive look at the ancient city of Pompeii that begins with scientific facts: How was it destroyed? How did Mount Vesuvius become an active volcano? What happened during the eruption? How long did Pompeii lay buried and how was it finally rediscovered? What was its history before the disaster? The author rebuilds the past in words and pictures, allowing us to imagine what it was like to live in old Pompeii. Like an archaeological detective, he sifts through the ruins and artifacts to reconstruct one area of the town in minute detail. 

Bodies From the Ash: Life and Death in Ancient Pompeii

By James M. Deem

In ancient times, Pompeii was one of the largest cities in the Roman Empire. Its 20,000 inhabitants lived in the shadow of Vesuvius, which they believed was nothing more than a mountain. But Vesuvius was a volcano. And on the morning of August 24, A.D. 79, Vesuvius began to erupt. Within twenty-four hours, the entire city and many of its citizens had been utterly annihilated. It was not until hundreds of years later that Pompeii saw daylight again as archaeological excavations began to unearth what had been buried under layers of volcanic rubble. Digging crews expected to find buildings and jewelry and other treasures, but they found something unexpected, too: the imprints of lost citizens, their deaths captured as if by photographic images in volcanic ash.

The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.

If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author

The Lost City of Pompeii https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/pompeii