Books
Email
Print
Young Reading Cleopatra, pyramids await readers
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: May 18, 2008
I was one of those kids for whom the dry facts of social studies didn't take unless the teacher first hooked me with a mesmerizing story. I needed a connection before the swirl of events, politics and other assorted pieces fit into a puzzle I cared to understand. Now a mother of three girls studying a wide range of topics, I enjoy social studies more than ever, especially if I can find a good book to pair with the topics the girls are covering. Nerdy? Sure, but so much more entertaining than rote memorization of dates and names. So today's column and next week's coverage of Greece (and maybe the Vikings) are for those wonderful social-studies teachers connecting the dots from here to the rest of the world and its past for kids who like to learn as I do.
HISTORY DUDES; ANCIENT EGYPTIANS: Dudes from the Past Tell It Like It Was. By Laura Buller. DK. Ages 10 and up. 63 pages. $12.99.
Cleverly packaged in a composition-notebook type of format, this series is entertaining for young readers. With a fast-paced, graphic style of presenting information, this book about the dudes who settled Egypt is different from any textbook. "The Ancient Egyptians are super-cool dudes … For 3,000 years, these dudes rock!" the author writes on the first page. From the farmers to the nobles and temple priests, every aspect of Egyptian life and culture is explored. A great reference guide to entice that reluctant student into studying ancient Egypt.
PYRAMIDS AND MUMMIES. By Anne Bolton. Simon & Schuster. Ages 8-14. $21.99.
When this golden pyramid-shaped book arrived last week, I left it on the kitchen counter to gauge my daughters' reaction to it. Sure enough, none of the three could resist touching it, perusing it and then asking to unseal the pop-up documents inside. The triangular book becomes a parallelogram when open, and each page of the oddly shaped book takes readers through various aspects of Egyptian culture. Photography, graphics and detailed illustrations support the information about Egypt. And now that I'm finished, I have to give it back to the girls upstairs. They aren't through poring over this one. To me, that is the most valid recommendation of all.
CLEOPATRA: Discover the World of Cleopatra Through the Diary of Her Handmaiden, Nefret. By Adele Geras. Houghton Mifflin. Ages 8-14. 64 pages. $16.95.
Surely Cleopatra would approve of this oversize book with "jewels" set into its cover. This appealing piece of historical fiction chronicles Cleopatra's life first through her handmaid's embellished diary entries and then through explanations that follow the diary entries. Even thousands of years later, Cleopatra and her great love affair with the Roman ruler Mark Antony make for an incredible story of power and romance. Shakespeare wrote a play about them. Elizabeth Taylor starred as Cleopatra in film. This book remains age-appropriate while introducing children to this captivating slice of history.
THE EGYPT GAME. By Zilpha Keatley Snyder. Simon & Schuster. Ages 8-12. 215 pages. $16.99.
Does this title sound familiar? First published in 1967 and released again 40 years later, this book remains a favorite. My middle daughter saw it on my stack and told me how much she loved it when she read it last year. My oldest daughter concurred and said, "Isn't that an old book?" Yes, it is, Hannah; but it is a classic for a reason.
This Newbery Honor Book isn't really about Egypt, but rather about two sixth-graders with active imaginations. When April's mother sends April to live with her grandmother in Melanie's apartment complex, Melanie worries that April's wacky appearance and cocky attitude will keep her from making friends.
Melanie and April soon discover a shared loved for all things about ancient Egypt. They create the Egypt Game behind A-Z Antiques and Curio Shop, where costumes, ceremonies and a secret code transport them to ancient Egypt. The game provides a much-needed escape from April's reality.
Danger lurks in the neighborhood when children disappear and the continuation of the Egypt Game is threatened. This frightening mystery adds an important edge to the story, but the author has kept it from being grisly or explained in too much detail.
It is no wonder this book has kept its appeal so long after its debut.
Also enjoy:
ART ACROSS THE AGES: Ancient Egypt. By Kelly Campbell Hinshaw. Chronicle. Ages 4-7. $4.95.
PHARAOH: Life and Afterlife of a God. By David Kennett. Walker & Co. Ages 10-14. 48 pages. $18.95.
HATSHEPSUT: The Princess Who Became King. By Ellen Galford. National Geographic. Ages 8-12. 64 pages. $17.95.
MUMMIES. By John Malam. Houghton Mifflin. Ages 10-14. 64 pages. $8.95.
■ Monica Young can be reached at cyoung9@triad.rr.com.
Email
Print
ADVERTISEMENT
N.C. Politics
Federal Politics
See community events or add your own! Click here!
Advertisement
