Cleopatra and the Egyptians

School Library Journal

ea. vol: illus. by Gerry Wood. diags. maps. photogs. bibliog. glossary. chron. index. (Life and Times Bks.). Bookwright Pr, dist. by Watts. Oct. 1986. PLB $10.90. Gr 5-7 A brief overview of Cleopatra's life and her tumultuous times provides a dramatic introduction to this history of ancient Egypt. Langley succeeds quite well in condensing the rich and complex civilization in Cleopatra and the Egyptians. The one- and two-page chapters, illustrated with black-and-white photographs and crude full-color drawings, cover subjects such as religion, food, and crafts. Although not really a biography, it is another source of information on an often requested subject. The arrival of Pizarro and the subsequent execution of the Inca ruler is the focus of Atahuallpa and the Incas. Following the uniform series format, this volume describes the history and daily life of the Incas. However, it is less readable than the volume on Egypt. The shadowy figure of Atahuallpa and the less well documented Inca culture come across as inconclusive and sometimes confusing. Marguerite F. Raybould, Glendale Public Library, Calif.