Ancient Egypt

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-Each two-page spread examines a different aspect of ancient Egyptian culture. But what makes this volume especially helpful are the good charts, sidebars, and illustrations. For example, there's a chronology that helps line up Egyptian events with those in the rest of the world (such as the birth of Jesus, the civilizations in Central and South America, etc.). Notable illustrations include the various crowns pharaohs wore, what Egyptian gods looked like, and meanings for basic hieroglyphics. The sidebars also impart lots of fascinating tidbits that spice up the text. For example, Egyptians wore mostly white because dyes at the time weren't colorfast. King Tut's coffin was the largest piece of ancient gold ever discovered. Large, full-color photos make it easy to pick out details mentioned in the text. Though not as in depth as George Hart's Ancient Egypt (Crown, 1990), this book certainly provides a good overview.-Cathryn A. Camper, Minneapolis Public Library