Esther’s Story by Diane Wolkstein, illustrated by Juan Wijngaard (HarperTrophy, 1998)

Esther saved the day. Literally. In this biblical account, written in the form of a diary, Esther tells the story of her life and how as Queen Esther she saved her people from Haman, who wished to destroy the Jewish people.

Queen Esther: The Merit of Things Hidden from the Women in Judaism.

c. 276 BC-194 BC

The Librarian Who Measured the Earth by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes (Little Brown, 1994)

Sun and shadows. Those were the keys to the Eratosthenes’ discovery of how to measure the Earth’s circumference. A fascinating look at ancient times and at how geometry can make sense of our world.

Learn how Eratosthenes figured it out at the Cornell website.

69 BC-August 12, 30 BC

Cleopatra by Peter Vennema and Diane Stanley, illustrated by Diane Stanley (HarperTrophy, 1997)

The woman was a savvy ruler. Incredible artwork accompanies the story of the last queen of Egypt.

Take a look at the Field Museum of Chicago’s Cleopatra of Egypt: From History to Myth exhibit.