Ancient Egypt

October 1, 2019
Grades 3-5 Nardo pens a succinct overview of ancient Egyptian history in this selection from the Civilizations of the World series (8 titles). Choosing to forgo the culture's more sensational aspects (e.g., curses and buried treasure), he focuses on the connection between the Nile and the civilization's success; pharaohs' roles as political, military, and religious leaders; daily life for peasants; and a swift rundown of the empire's rise and fall. It's a solid, entry-level introduction to ancient Egypt, though it lacks a sense of enthusiasm for its subject. Fact boxes, a map, and photos of artifacts, temples, and artwork accompany widely spaced lines of text for an easy reading experience. A section on Egyptians' four ancient systems of writing is followed by a reading comprehension quiz; downloadable lesson plans are also available.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)