The glamor and mystery of ancient kingdoms from around the world are described in these titles. Readers can learn about the Epic of Gilgamesh or Chinese mythology, as well as emperors, dynasties, and the extent of the territories they ruled. Most pages contain an illustration or sidebar to break up the text and provide extra details on the Colosseum or Aztec ball games. Each book also includes QR codes to access videos, online articles and essays, and activities such as puzzles and coloring pages. These resources can also be accessed through a provided URL. Questions help readers make connections between the text and themselves, other texts, and the world. VERDICT A helpful introduction for intermediate grades, and the online extras make it especially appealing to students.