Rich and Poor in Ancient Egypt

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-On illustrated spreads, the foods, homes, religious practices, forms of transportation, work, sports, clothing, and death/burial customs of the different classes are briefly compared. The approach is a bit unusual, and effective, to a certain extent. Both books assume basic knowledge of these civilizations. No introductory material places the topics in historical or geographical context. Each slim title has a time line in the back, but the exact period under discussion in the main text is not specified or highlighted there. However, these well-designed and attractive resources would complement other materials about Egypt or Rome, especially since the lives of the poor are often ignored. In each book a few quotes, graffiti commentary, inscriptions, epitaphs, and/or excerpts from letters are highlighted in sidebars. Photographs of sites, artifacts, statues, and other pieces of art, as well as original drawings, are included. These books are on a similar reading level as the "Clues to the Past" series (Sea-to-Sea, 2005) and the "Uncovering History" series (Smart Apple, 2003). Ancient Egypt and Ancient Rome (both DK, 2000) provide more comprehensive treatments of these cultures, but they are on a higher reading level.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.