1 . Getting to know a country or a city, one of the best choices is to read books. Here, both fact and fiction, these fascinating books bring the Roman world to life.

Livi is half ordinary schoolgirl, half Roman goddess. When her dad is accidentally sent back in time to ancient Rome, it’s down to Livi to go after him and save the day. Full of fun and adventure, this time-travel story will show you the Romans as you’ve never imagined before.

Camilla,a girl from North Africa, sets out across the Roman Empire on a journey to the faraway island of Britannica. Can she successfully go through this strange, cold new land, full of secrets and danger? This is an attractive adventure about real historical events and characters.

What was it really like to live in ancient Rome? This amazing non-fiction book introduces you to call aspects of the Roman world, including entertainment, food, houses, jobs, medicine, people, religion and transport. You’ll find craft activities, games, maps and recipes to try out.

Zoom in on the pages of this picture book to find out all about how ancient Romans lived. Visit a typical Roman market, meet gladiators (角斗士) and see what a school, temple and villa were like. Use the book’s accompanying magnifying glass (放大镜) to watch over the images, seek out facts and uncover details.

8 . When we think of influential people, we think of their successes, perhaps envying their happy and colorful lives. But even a life filled with suffering and cut short at a young age can have a big influence. The story of Jane Marczewski, better known by her stage name Nightbirde, shows this clearly.

Nightbirde became famous after singing on the TV show America’s Got Talent in 2021.Sheper formed It’s OK, a song she wrote herself, and two days later, this song became the top song oniTunes.

Nightbirde got cancer in 2017 and was told she had six months to live. Against all difficulties, she was told cancer-free the following year, only to find out a few months later that the cancer was back. She survived this second cancer as well, getting better in July 2020. But when she sang on America’s Got Talent, she explained that the cancer had returned and spread throughout her body. In spite of her success at first, she became so sick that she had to drop out of the competition. She died in February 2022,at the age of 31.

And yet, her positive, uplifting song It’s OK has inspired countless people. The comments on her social media posts are filled with fans explaining how Nightbirde’s success encouraged them in their own difficulties. And during her suffering, Nightbirde still managed to say, “I’m so much more than the bad things that happened to me.” On her blog she wrote honestly and movingly about her suffering. Her story gives people strength and confidence. Nightbirde’s stage name comes from a series of dreams she had in which she saw birds singing in the dark. Her willingness to sing despite the darkness she experienced has inspired many people.