Eyewitness: Pyramid [Hardcover]

James Putnam (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Series: DK Eyewitness Books

Discover the timeless grandeur of the pyramids -- from the massive tombs of Egypt's pharaohs to the majestic temples of Mexico.

They Pyramids at Giza in Egypt have stood for over 4,500 years, and the amazing feat of their construction is shrouded in mystery. This superb collection of specially commissioned photographs tries to answer some of the riddles about them and the people who built them. Discover what archeological finds have revealed about life on the banks of the Nile during the Pyramid Age. See the pyramids and temples of Egypt and Mexico in breathtaking detail, as well as statues of pharaohs, officials, workers, and religious texts written on stone and papyrus thousands of years ago. Reconstructions show the step Pyramid Complex at Saqqara, the interior passages of the Great Pyramid, and a pyramid being built. Pyramid is a unique and fascinating introduction to the mysteries of these striking and colossal structures.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-There are quite a few books for children on this subject, such as David Macaulay's Pyramid (Houghton, 1975), George Hart's Ancient Egypt (Harcourt, 1989), and Jacqueline Morley's An Egyptian Pyramid (Peter Bedrick, 1991), but most of them use drawings as illustrations, whereas Putnam's has full-color photographs. The best coverage is given to Egyptian tombs, but pyramids in Nubia, Mexico, and Central America are also described. In addition to sharing information on what is known about the Egyptian pyramids, Putnam also mentions unsolved riddles about them, such as how many workers built them, how the stones were moved, etc. Occasionally, the author makes conjectures about why things were done or how people felt. The information here is similar to that found in the titles mentioned above, but the photo-essay format is a novelty.
Cathryn A. Camper, Minneapolis Public Library
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

...a mini museum between the covers of a book. [Eyewitness series] -- The New York Times

An exciting and informative guide... -- African Sun Times

These books' striking visual impact will draw in even the most casual readers. [Eyewitness series] -- School Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: DK CHILDREN; 1st edition (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789458985
• ISBN-13: 978-0789458988
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,217,764 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Pyramid Book!, November 9, 2004

By 

Lynn Ellingwood "The ESOL Teacher" (Webster, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pyramid (DK Eyewitness Books) (Hardcover)

I love Eyewitness books and this the newest in my collection. The book deals a lot with Ancient Egypt so my students will go nuts over that. It also has some Mayan pyramids and Mayan culture. It is a wonderful book. I love the book and my students will love it too.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pyramids for young readers, November 22, 2008

By 

Steven A. Peterson (Hershey, PA (Born in Kewanee, IL)) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pyramid (DK Eyewitness Books) (Hardcover)

DK Publishing created the "Eyewitness Books" series for young readers. This volume does a fine job presenting information about pyramids for the stated audience. The writing is pitched appropriately for younger readers. As with all entries in the series, the illustrations and photos are wonderful.

Pyramids from a variety of geographical locations are explored here: from Egypt to Mexico (Mayan and Aztec), as well as more contemporary manifestations. The first entry serves to provide context, by asking "What are pyramids?" The focus here is largely the Egyptian and Sudanese pyramids, although one photo of a Mayan pyramid allows some comparison between Egypt and the Americas. These structures were normally used for tombs of the elite (e.g., the Pharaohs in Egypt) or as temples (in Central America).

The first several sections of the book focus on the Middle East, with special emphasis on Egypt. We see the first pyramid of note, for Pharaoh Djoser about 2680 BC; then, the next stage in the evolution of pyramids under the Pharaoh Sneferu, to celebrate major military victories. Next, we see the famous pyramids at Giza (with the Sphinx as an auxiliary structure) (Pages 16-21).

Many subjects that would interest young readers are presented--from what is inside the pyramids to how they were built to tools used.

The book closes by noting that "The pyramid lives on" (Pages 62-63). The Transamerica Building in San Francisco and I. M. Pei's entrance to the Louvre in Paris illustrate contemporary manifestations of this ancient structure.

Again, another neat entry in the Eyewitness Books series. Young readers interested in the subject will enjoy this a great deal.