Mesopotamian Civilization
best ancient history books for kids

The Mesopotamian civilization was a LONG time ago, but its level of sophistication, innovation, and advancements were truly amazing. Ancient Mesopotamia was the cradle of civilization, with legacies that can be traced throughout all the subsequent great civilizations of old. However, many educational units on ancient civilizations for kids skip over learning about the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians (known collectively as Mesopotamians).


This is unfortunate. Time in the crowded school day is at a premium, but we recommend that if your curriculum includes ancient civilizations for kids, you should consider squeezing in a few lessons on the Mesopotamian civilization at the beginning. This civilization that invented language, made great advancements in agriculture, is the home of the first written story, etc...

Children who learn about the Mesopotamian civilization first will be able to see its legacies in later civilizations and understand how subsequent developments were built on early advances made in ancient Mesopotamia. Below are some books on ancient Mesopotamia for kids. There aren't very many available so our list isn't terribly long. We'll keep looking for more.

best ancient history books for kids


Gilgamesh the King
(The Gilgamesh Trilogy)
by Ludmila Zeman
3rd grade - 6th grade

The Revenge of Ishtar
(The Gilgamesh Trilogy)
by Ludmila Zeman
3rd grade - 6th grade



The Last Quest of Gilgamesh
(The Gilgamesh Trilogy)
by Ludmila Zeman
3rd grade - 6th grade

Lugalbanda
The Boy Who Got Caught
Up in a War

 by Kathy Henderson
3rd grade & Up



DK Eyewitness Mesopotamia
by Philip Steele
4th grade & Up

The Golden Bull
 by Marjorie Cowley
5th grade - 8th grade



Ancient Mesopotamia
Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians
by Virginia Schomp
6th grade - 8th grade

Gilgamesh the Hero
by Geraldine McCaughrean
6th grade - 9th grade