Lions and Gladiators and Fires, Oh My! Third Graders Go Back to Ancient Rome with Rescue Dog

Hello, Readers!

This week third graders meet to discuss the historical fiction book Ranger in Time: Danger in Ancient Rome (#2 in the series) by Kate Messner.

Ranger is a golden retriever who has been trained as a search-and-rescue dog. In this adventure, he travels to the Colosseum in ancient Rome, where there are gladiator fights and wild animal hunts! Ranger becomes friends with Marcus, a young boy who must be saved from a runaway lion, and Quintus, a new gladiator who must prove himself in the arena. Will Ranger be able to help Marcus and Quintus escape the brutal world of the Colosseum?

This story is full of historical details, plenty of action to keep readers engaged, and full-page illustrations to support the text. At the end of the book, a glossary is included to clarify meaning of ancient Roman terms, and there is an author's note about the research that went into learning about Rome.

To preview discussion questions, click here. Be sure to visit the Grade 3 page for more links to web sites related to Kate Messner, her books, and ancient Rome.

Happy reading!