From School Library Journal
Grade 4-8–Chrisp guides readers through a graphic path of storyboard text superimposed on full-color illustrations to show the steps involved in building and the history behind the Great Pyramid of Giza. A discussion of the settlement of the Nile, a catalog of tools used in the construction, a description of the steps taken when a pharaoh died, mummification, the rediscovery of the tombs and their secrets, illustrations of the treasures found within them, and a catalog of the pyramids of the world make this a comprehensive study of the subject. Definitions of new terms are found along the bottom of each page and are highlighted in the text. David Macaulay's
Pyramid (Houghton, 1975) describes in great detail the building process for an imaginary structure and has black-and-white illustrations. Anne Millard's
Pyramids (Kingfisher, 1996) covers similar material but focuses more on those that have been built around the world. With its beautiful illustrations, three-dimensional diagrams, and information gleaned from the use of cutting-edge technology (CT scans), this book is an enticing, up-to-date study of Egyptology and is sure to appeal to students. It's the next best thing to being there.
–Ann Joslin, Fort LeBoef School District, Waterford, PA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Reviewed with Lorrie Mack's
Weather.
Gr. 2-5. These titles in the ongoing Eye Wonder series offer brief, photo-rich introductions to their subjects. Although Pyramid focuses on the famous Egyptian structures, it takes an international view, featuring spreads about pyramids in the Sudan, Java, and India as well as several pages of Mayan and Aztec ruins. The bulk of the material, though, examines the pyramids of Giza, with cross-sections of the Great Pyramid, an overview of artifacts and various theories of construction, and so on. Weather offers basic introductions to seasons, cloud formations, storms, wind, and pollution's impact on Earth's atmosphere. weather is a less successful title, with a weaker text that includes some trite phrasing: "When an airplane flies above the clouds, the passengers have a magical view." The sharp color photographs are the strength of both titles. Despite a few hard-to-read layouts that position small type directly over images, the attractive spreads will bring readers up close to peach-size hail or the Sphinx's paw. Elementary-school students seeking quick definitions and photo examples can start here; report writers will want more substantive texts. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
