Books About Gladiators

The Best Gladiators Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for our other guide?

Explore our editor-reviewed guide to Ancient Civilizations Books, featuring 13 favorites and recommendations by age.

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Looking for excellent children's books about gladiators? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

The Shortlist

Our 9 Favorite Books About Gladiators

Entangled with the Egyptians!
Sale price
$1498
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2018

Entangled with the Egyptians!

By Gary Northfield · Book #3 in the Julius Zebra series

A zebra mistaken for a god faces a pharaoh's curse in Egypt.

320 pages
4.2 Goodreads · 281 ratings
$15.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Julius Zebra, mistaken for a Horse God in ancient Egypt, enjoys royal treatment until a stolen gem unleashes a pharaoh's curse. As the Egyptians grow suspicious, Julius and his friends must navigate a series of comedic challenges to escape entombment. Will they outwit the curse and survive their wild adventure?
Where Is the Colosseum?
Sale price
$574
Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2017

Where Is the Colosseum?

By Jim O'Connor, Who HQ, John O'Brien (Illustrator) · Where Is . . . ? series

Witness the brutal spectacles of ancient Rome's Colosseum, where life and death hung in the balance.

112 pages· 7,676 words· Est. 1 hour read
4.2 Goodreads · 339 ratings
$5.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Step into the grandeur of ancient Rome as Emperor Titus unveils the Colosseum, a colossal arena hosting 100 days of brutal games. Gladiators clash, wild beasts roar, and warships battle on flooded floors, captivating over 50,000 spectators. As the Roman Empire crumbles by AD 476, the Colosseum's ruins stand as a testament to a time of unforgettable spectacle and power. What drove this thirst for blood and glory, and how did it shape history? Discover the secrets behind one of the world's most iconic landmarks.
Attack at the Arena
Sale price
$759
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2011

Attack at the Arena

By Paul McCusker, Marianne Hering · Book #2 in the The Imagination Station series

Two cousins travel back in time to ancient Rome to retrieve a stolen silver cup and find themselves in the middle of a gladiatorial contest

128 pages· 10,019 words· Est. 2 hour read
4.2 Goodreads · 816 ratings
Paperback
Summary: Cousins Patrick and Beth journey to fifth-century Rome, driven by a mysterious letter and a quest for a monk's cup that could save Albert from prison. Amidst the grandeur of the Colosseum, Patrick is captured and forced into the arena, while Beth becomes an emperor's slave. They encounter Telemachus, a monk determined to end the brutal gladiator battles. As they navigate danger and intrigue, the stakes rise with each discovery. Will they secure the cup and alter Albert's fate, or will the past's perils prove too great?
Danger in Ancient Rome
Sale price
$674
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2015

Danger in Ancient Rome

By Kate Messner, Kelley McMorris (Illustrator) · Book #2 in the Ranger in Time series

A young boy is transported back in time to ancient Rome where he befriends a gladiator and helps him win his freedom.

160 pages· 14,796 words· Est. 2 hour read
4.2 Goodreads · 887 ratings
$6.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Ranger, a time-traveling golden retriever, lands in ancient Rome's Colosseum. Amidst gladiator battles and wild hunts, he befriends Marcus, a boy in peril, and Quintus, a gladiator facing deadly trials. Can Ranger help them escape the brutal arena and find freedom? Adventure and danger await as Ranger races against time to save his new friends from the clutches of history's fiercest spectacles.
Rumble with the Romans!
Sale price
$759
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2015

Rumble with the Romans!

By Gary Northfield · Book #1 in the Julius Zebra series

A zebra and friends must survive as gladiators to win freedom in ancient Rome.

288 pages
4.0 Goodreads · 866 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Julius Zebra, captured from the African savanna, finds himself in the heart of Rome's Colosseum. Alongside a scarred lion and a clueless warthog, he must become a gladiator. Can this unlikely trio win the crowd's favor and secure their freedom in a brutal world where only the toughest survive? Follow their hilarious and chaotic journey, filled with unexpected twists and cartoon-style antics, as they navigate the perilous path to victory. Will they rise to the challenge, or will the Colosseum's roar be their downfall?
See You Later, Gladiator
Sale price
$674
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2000

See You Later, Gladiator

By Jon Scieszka, Adam McCauley (Illustrator) · Book #9 in the Time Warp Trio series

Time-travelers face new adventures with a twist of humor.

96 pages· 10,769 words· Est. 2 hour read
3.8 Goodreads · 596 ratings
$6.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Join the Time Warp Trio as they embark on fresh, hilarious adventures through time. With their unique style and humor, these friends navigate unexpected challenges and historical twists. What surprises await?
There's No Place Like Rome
Sale price
$1697
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2027

There's No Place Like Rome

By Stuart Gibbs · Book #1 in the Time Crime series

A kid who flunks history is sent back in time to save it.

272 pages
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Johnny Day can't even read Roman numerals, so he is the last person anyone would send back to ancient Rome. But when someone travels into the past to change history, his brilliant aunt's tech company sends him to fix it. With a snarky sentient computer as his only help, Johnny dodges gladiators and conspirators to stop a genius supervillain before the present is wiped out.
Warriors!
Sale price
$474
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2001

Warriors!

By Jim Eldridge

From gladiators to samurai to special forces, meet history's fiercest fighters.

127 pages· 25,696 words· Est. 3 hour read
3.6 Goodreads · 18 ratings
$4.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Gladiators, medieval knights, Japanese samurai and the special forces of Desert Storm come to life in dramatic true stories of some of the greatest warriors the world has seen. The book also looks ahead to the robot and android soldiers of the future, with black-and-white illustrations throughout.
The Colosseum
Sale price
$2940
Picture Book · Ages 8–13 · 2020

The Colosseum

By Elizabeth Noll

Uncover the secrets of the Colosseum's enduring legacy and its ancient spectacles.

32 pages· 1,641 words· Est. 13 min read-aloud
4.5 Goodreads · 2 ratings
$30.95Save 5%
Library Binding
Summary: Dive into the mysteries of the Colosseum, where epic battles once raged. Discover why this iconic structure was built, how it withstood the test of time, and its role today. Explore ancient Rome through vivid photos and intriguing facts, revealing the Colosseum's storied past and its surprising connections to modern culture. What secrets does this ancient amphitheater hold?
Ages 7–10Junior Chapter Book Club

Great books for ages 7–10, every month.

Two hardcover chapter books a month for readers ready for longer stories, with coordinated spines for a beautiful shelf.

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