How Would You Survive As an Ancient Egyptian? [ペーパーバック]

I had to use this book as a report on Ancient Egypt. It had so much information on everything that I needed. It had information on mummies, life, and gods, and more all in this book. If it wasn't for this book I wouldn't be hear with a good grade.

This book is an excellent children's book about the ancient Egyptian culture and would serve very well for homeschooling or independent study. The first dozen pages give a map and general overview of ancient Egypt and where it fits into history's timeline. Several following pages colorfully illustrate an Egyptian scene, ask intriguing questions about what's going on in the scene, and give page numbers for where the reader can turn to find the answers. The following pages are successive 1- to 2-page spreads that each delve more deeply into a specific facet of the culture (family structure, houses, clothing, careers, mummification, religioun, etc.) Each section uses excellent illustrations and attractive layouts to provide additional detail about that topic. Corners of the pages contain questions that lead the reader on to another 2-page topic spread.

Cartoon-like series are used to explain successive steps or events such as the process of mummification, a day in the life of a particular type of person, or the farming year. Illustrations are colorful, interesting, and active. Nudity is illustrated in applicable situations (giving birth, bathing, dancing), but is done in a tactful, non-explicit and non-sexual manner. Thankfully, there is also no mention of some of the more child-inappropriate details of the myths and legends of ancient Egypt.

There are several sections of varying detail within each page spread so it would be easy to assign beginning students smaller portions of the text, or assign specific topic spreads. This segmentation breaks the book up into something that may be easier and less intimidating for students who aren't avid readers. (Avid readers will probably devour the entire book at a sitting or two.)

The final pages involve a "How Do We Know?" layout that explains how and when research was conducted, a "Have You Survived?" quiz, a glossary of terms, and a brief timeline that summarizes kingdoms and dynasties as well as particularly noteworthy events.

I think this is an excellent resource for grade school and middle school students to learn more about ancient Egypt. It would also serve well as a broad but introductory review of the culture for high school students. It's one of a series of similar books which include other cultures such as Ancient Greece, Rome, and American Indians. My brief review of the some of the other books leads me to believe they have similar structure, style and quality.

As an educator and parent, I found this book to be phenomenol! The kids in my classroom were fascinated by all the details and illustrations that show what it was really like to be an Egyptian on a daily basis. It has a "quiz" at the end of the book that's fun to take to test your skills as to what you learned. This book really takes you back to Egypt and helps you put your own two feet into the real world of Egypt! Superb detail on every subject; housing, foods, typical daily life, women in society, mummification. Just wonderful!