Ancient Egypt

Gr 2–4—A survey of Aancient Egyptian history, culture, and daily life. This pocket-size book discusses the development of Egyptian society, explaining in broad, accessible terms the various transformations in its history. The text goes beyond the pyramids and mummies, discussing Egypt's geography, climate, mythology, and medical advances. Ohlin describes in detail everyday necessities such as travel and the three-season agricultural year. Readers also learn about the process of preparing mud bricks and the option of going to the market. Especially helpful is the clarification concerning the oft-confused distinction between Upper and Lower Egypt. Shaded boxes contain information on the gods, the calendar, and other facets of ancient Egyptian life. Important pharaohs, such as Hatshepsut, Akhenaton, and Ramses II, are covered, as are significant cultural achievements, including the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Giza. Larkum's simple, stylized illustrations depict clothing, household tools, and everyday scenes. These black-and-white line drawings capture fluid motion. The visuals and text share space evenly on the page, and illustrations range from quarter-page artifact details to full-page maps. While lacking the color of other titles, such as Miles Harvey's Look What Came from Egypt (Franklin Watts, 1998), this is an accessible, handy, and interesting work.