Salariya / Book House's fantastic history series "You wouldn't want to be..." by various authors. Illustrated by David Antram.

Salariya contacted us to let us know about their fabulous range of history books aimed at young children. "You Wouldn't Want to Be..." is the range title, with a huge selection of diverse subjects covered. With similarities to the "Horrible Histories" and "Tony Robinson's Weird World" books, Salariya's range is presented in a larger format book with rich colourful illustrations, making them instantly engaging and attractive to Charlotte's age group (5-6 year olds) and beyond.

Fancy a mummified pet to keep you company in the afterlife? "You Wouldn't Want to Be an Egyptian Mummy"

We took a look at the following books:

"You Wouldn't Want To Be an Egyptian Mummy"

"You Wouldn't Want To Be a Victorian Schoolchild"

"You Wouldn't Want to be Married to King Henry VIII" (too right we wouldn't!)

"You Wouldn't Want to be a Viking Explorer"

"You Wouldn't Want to be a Victorian Miner"

We're complete history nuts at home and we've passed on a bit of our love of history to Charlotte through visiting museums and taking a look at other non-fiction ranges from various publishers. Salariya's range presents facts in a brilliantly fun way and these have been a real hit.

Learning your times tables in "You Wouldn't Want to be a Victorian Schoolchild"

Charlotte was inspired to make her own Mummy...so one rainy sunday we got busy with a willing volunteer (Bad Burglar Barbie) and some old scraps of material...

Step by step, Barbie is about to be mummified!

Hey, why doesn't this look like the picture? Help Daddy!

Ahh, we need to bind the linen tighter. I see!

Almost there...

Time to add some heiroglyphics to the tomb. Robbers beware!

Barbie is now ready for the afterlife! Charlotte also drew Hapy (her favourite Egyptian god) and a stark warning of impalement for any would-be tomb robbers. Eek!

We have to admit we really loved "You Wouldn't Want to be an Egyptian" but the whole range is fantastic and well worth taking a look at if your children are a bit too young for the Horrible Histories range, and prefer more colourful and illustrated non fiction books. I particularly liked "You Wouldn't Want to be a Victorian Schoolchild" and Charlotte asking if I ever got the cane at school (I did, unfortunately, I'm old enough to remember when a thwack across the bottom was considered a just punishment. Owch!)

Various historians and authors produce a tantalising set of fascinating facts, and Dave Antram's illustrations throughout each of the titles are absolutely brilliant fun.

We're looking forward to the rest of the range (including an upcoming World War 1 based title called "You Wouldn't Want to be in the Trenches in World War 1").

You can take a look at the whole range via Salariya / Book House's website here. 

Charlotte's best bit: Creating her own Egyptian Mummy (with a handy spare Barbie Doll and some bandages!)

Daddy's Favourite bit: An utterly fantastic range full of facts and fascination, without an over-reliance on gross-out bits to keep children hooked. Beautifully presented and illustrated, and a great format for little hands

(Kindly sent to us for review by Salariya / Book House)