The Ancient Egyptians

School Library Journal

Gr 3-4--Colorful illustrations, maps, and photographs combined with attractive, open pages and large, easy-to-read print provide appealing packages. Unfortunately, the dry, stilted texts are not interesting enough to hold readers' attention. Topics that cover highlights of everyday life, customs, culture, and history are presented in a two-page spread format. Information on topics is at times so brief that it can be confusing for readers unfamiliar with the subject area. Anne Pearson's Ancient Greece (1992), George Hart's Ancient Egypt (1990, both Knopf), and Neil Grant's The Egyptians (Oxford Univ., 1996) provide more adequate introductory material and have an attention-grabbing appearance, although they are at a slightly higher reading level.--Cynthia M. Sturgis, Ledding Library, Milwaukee, OR