Through Time: London: From Roman Capital to Olympic City    by Richard Platt & Manuela Cappon Order:  USA  Can Macmillan, 2009 (2009) Hardcover      Reviewed by Bob Walch Part of the Through Time series of books that also includes Pompeii and Beijing, London: From Roman Capital to Olympic City is a splendid book that combines full page, bold color illustrations of the city with cut-away cross sections of key structures to show you what's going on inside of them. Readers age six and up will be able to follow the turbulent history of the city from 3500 B.C. to the present day. They'll meet settlers, warriors, and rulers, witness invasions and experience the city's life through the eyes of its citizens. Beginning by showing London as a Neolithic camp, the author takes us through the Roman invasion and later Viking invasion of the area. The Plague year of 1348 is featured along with Elizabethan London during Shakespeare's time, the Great Fire of 1666 and the Blitz during World War II. The final section focuses on London as it prepares for the 2012 Olympic Games. A glossary will help the reader decipher unfamiliar terms, plus there is a general timeline and map that places London in reference to the rest of Great Britain and parts of Western Europe. The detailed illustrations - with accompanying text that explains what is being pictured - will give the youngster a sense of how the city has changed and what some of the geographical and anthropological issues were from age to age. Not only is this a reference book the entire family will enjoy but it also would be an ideal way of introducing a youngster to London before taking a trip to the city. Once the child reads this volume, he or she will have a sense of not only the history of England's capital but also an idea of what some of the major present landmarks are. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews