Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Egyptology
Illustrator: Nicholas Harris , Helen Ward , Ian Andrew
Novelty Book
For ages 8 to 12
Candlewick, 2004 ISBN: 978-0763626389
Emily Sands is going on an expedition to Egypt. Her friend Lady Farncombe has a papyrus on which it is written that Osiris “the great god” was buried in “the Holy Mound.” Was Osiris a real person then, perhaps a king? Did he have a tomb that might be full of treasures much like the one found by Howard Carter? Emily is determined that if such a tomb exists she is going to find it. This is the journal of her journey complete with all sorts of inserts, historical information about the ancient Egyptians and their civilization, maps, illustrations of many different kinds, and much more.
With Emily we get to see many of the most magnificent of the Egyptian archaeological sites, including the pyramids, Amarna, Abydos, Saqqara, and the Valley of the Kings. She describes the things she sees and their historical significance. For example she explains why the Egyptians mummified their kings.
Bit by bit Emily gathers information to try to figure out where the mound mentioned in the Farncombe papyrus might be. As she and her colleagues travel up the River Nile they gather small clues that lead them to a site that may well be the one that they are looking for.
Combining a wonderful archaeological mystery with real historical details about the lives of the ancient Egyptians, the creators of this wonderful multi-media book have produced something truly unique that is beautiful to look at, entertaining, and educational.
