The Getty Museum has published a picture book that is remarkable in several ways. First of all, we have in this title a historically-based tale of ancient Rome with a young female protagonist, taken straight from the writings of Livy. Beyond that representation, however, which is accompanied by depictions of female companionship so rarely found in works based closely on ancient authors, we have a gorgeous pictorial representation of both Romans and Etruscans engaged in activities of daily life. The tale of Cloelia involves a hostage situation from the history of the early Roman republic that is solved by the ingenuity and bravery of Cloelia, a Roman girl approximately ten years old, who outshines all of the other hostages, both male and female, child and adult. The visual element of the book can serve as a model for accuracy in books about the ancient world.  For one, the characters are all clearly Mediterranean; there is no blond hair and no fair skin in the entire book. We also see depictions of children’s games and cooking that are historically based. My favorite scene is when Cloelia joins the Etruscan king and queen at a feast. The dishes are described, but also visually represented, in a stunning banquet scene. The book is not only accurate; it is also engaging and uplifting, enjoyable for children and adults alike.  Brave Cloelia makes an excellent read-aloud for younger children, but will also hold the interest of older readers who can make their way through the advanced language characteristic of picture books.  --Nava Cohen