The Pharaoh vs. the Felines

K-Gr 2–Pharaoh Amasis II of Egypt was in a pickle; he knew he would have to accept a marriage proposal to his daughter from Cambyses II of Persia, but was reluctant to let her leave Egypt. So what was his solution? Send a stand-in for his daughter and hope that the Persian ruler didn’t notice. He noticed. Once the deception inevitably unraveled, Cambyses II, eager to reclaim his honor, devised a plan to use one of Egypt’s most revered animals, the cat, against them. With clever humor, featuring an abundance of cat puns, this telling of the ancient Battle of Pelusium could be a fit for budding history enthusiasts. Using a conversational tone and large doses of humor, the narrative provides readers with important context to set the scene for this almost unbelievable skirmish. The book’s build-up, however, overshadows the actual battle, covered briefly in the last two pages, making for an abrupt ending and resulting in loose ends. Illustrations are neatly rendered in ink and digital color, enhancing the text’s accessibility. However, a map showing the development of Egypt includes an inebriated-looking man saying, “And beer,” to a list of Egyptian contributions. This seems like an unnecessary addition to an otherwise delightful take on an obscure moment in history.