Curse of the Crocodile God

May 1, 2007
Gr 3-6-These stories provide entertainment and solid information. In "Crocodile", Methen and Madja foil a grave robber in ancient Egypt. "Instruments" features a boy in ancient China who saves the emperor's life. "Victory" takes place in ancient Greece, where Pylades's brother might be murdered before he competes in the Olympics. In "Terror Trail", Sabina and Publius, slaves in Rome, must rescue their father, who has been sentenced to death. There is no graphic violence, but the stories vividly portray the periods' brutality. At one point, for example, the pharaoh threatens Methen and Madja with execution. The illustrations in all four books are a little wooden, but overlapping panels and dramatic close-ups give some energy to the layout. The bottom of every page includes a Did You Know? quick fact that is printed in a small black typeface in a narrow blue line. Illustrated glossaries define words in their historical context. With no more than 10 brief sentences per page, these rather frightening stories should hold the interest of reluctant readers, and they are more useful as accessible introductions to ancient history than as sources for assignments."Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY"

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