The Mystery of the Dead Sea Scrolls [Paperback]

Hagit Allon (Author), Lena Zehavi (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

A Sydney Taylor Book Award, Notable Book

A child’s discovery of the mystery and wonder of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

A delightful story about Daniel, 11 years old and living in Jerusalem, who aspires to be a detective. When assigned to do a school project on the Dead Sea Scrolls, Daniel discovers there are even bigger mysteries to be solved. His investigation takes him to the Shrine of the Book at The Israel Museum in Jerusalem, where he gets his first clues, then on to Qumran in the Judean Desert, where an archaeologist guides him through the place where the scrolls were found. Yossi Abolafia’s lighthearted illustrations accompany full-color photographs that bring this story to life, as we get to know Daniel, his family, and the people he meets along the way. Young readers will learn about one of the world’s most exciting and important archaeological finds, and will get a feel for life in Israel today, while they enjoy following Daniel's progress on his “big case.”

Ages 8 and up

 

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5–Allon and Zehavi offer a bare-bones introduction to a topic that is quite complex; their use of a fictional story as a vehicle for information lowers the potential age level of the audience. In folksy narrative, Daniel, an 11-year-old Israeli boy, recalls how he obtained information for a school report on the Dead Sea Scrolls. During two visits to the Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum he examines the ancient texts on exhibit, visits the library, and learns how the scrolls were discovered and a bit about their history by following a tour guide and talking with a curator. Finally, Daniel drives with his family to Qumran, where the scrolls were found, and learns about the Essenes–a religious sect of men whom many scholars believe wrote the texts–from an archaeologist. Abolafia's curious superimposition of cartoon figures on color photos–especially those photos that include real people–is jarring. Ilene Cooper's The Dead Sea Scrolls (HarperCollins, 1997) offers a more thorough, sophisticated introduction to the scrolls, their meaning and history, and some questions still debated by scholars.–Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
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Review

“A wonderfully accessible way to engage young readers into the unique and fascinating story of the Dead Sea Scrolls . . . an entertaining, informative, and enthusiastically recommended picture book story.”—Children’s Bookwatch

(Children's Bookwatch )

“A captivating combination of fact and fiction...introduces youngsters to ancient Jewish history, as well as Israeli landmarks, with a style all its own. A great book to read with children under 8, or for older children to enjoy on their own.”—Jewish Education Matters: A Publication of the Center for Jewish Education

(Jewish Education Matters )

“The photographs are sensational! . . . The writing style is peppy and the information is presented accurately and with clarity.”—Jewish Book World (Jewish Book World )

“An excellent and highly readable introduction to one of the most amazing archaeological finds in Jewish history.”—Ottawa Jewish Bulletin (Ottawa Jewish Bulletin )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 60 pages
• Publisher: The Jewish Publication Society (February 10, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0827608004
• ISBN-13: 978-0827608009
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,380,156 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The unique and fascinating story of the Dead Sea Scrolls, June 12, 2004

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mystery of the Dead Sea Scrolls (Paperback)

When eleven-year-old Daniel (who really wants to become a detective but has had much luck so far) is assigned to write a report on the Dead Sea Scrolls, he discovers a very big mystery indeed! Daniel's investigation take shim to Shrine Of The Book at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem where he gets some pointers from archaeological experts, then proceeds on to Qumran, the site of an ancient religious community in the Judean Desert -- the place where the scrolls were found. Drawing upon their training as archaeologists and senior educators at the Israel Museum's Ruth Youth Wing, co-authors Hait Allon and Lena Zehavi have presented a wonderfully accessible way to engage young readers into the unique and fascinating story of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Yossi Abolafia's lively illustrations are a perfect enhancement to The Mystery Of The Dead Sea Scrolls, an entertaining, informative, and enthusiastically recommended picture book story.