Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Tutankhamun
Nonfiction Picture Book
For ages 6 to 8
Marshall Cavendish, 2009 ISBN: 978-0761455585
Tutankhamun was born in the city of Amarna on the banks of the River Nile. His father, the pharaoh Akhenaten, built the city, and he was a confirmed monotheist, believing in the one god, Aten. This belief made the pharaoh very unpopular with many people because Egyptians had always believed in many gods. Akhenaten raised his son to believe that Aten was the one god, and the boy grew up saying prayers to Aten in the many temples that had been built in Amarna.
Over the years Tutankhamun was taught how to read and write, how to hunt and use weapons of war, and he had a relatively peaceful childhood until he was about nine, which was when he father unexpectedly died. All of a sudden his life changed dramatically. He was taken to the city of Luxor where he was crowned king. Still so young, Tutankhamun was pulled in many directions by people who wanted to use him to gain political power and by those who genuinely wanted to help him.
Tutankhamun did his best to rule wisely and to bring peace to his country, but his plans were cut short when he died when he was only nineteen years old. It is likely that his name would have been mostly forgotten, but then his tomb was discovered in 1922 and the name of Tutankhamun was spoken off all over the world.
In this beautifully illustrated picture book, Demi tells the story of a young man whose life was cruelly cut short and whose enemies did their best to wipe his name from the historical record. Thankfully, Tutankhamun’s secret tomb was found intact, and his story has fascinated people of all kinds for decades. This book serves as is a memorable tribute to the young king, and it paints a fascinating portrait of ancient Egyptian life.
