Tales of the Dead: Ancient Egypt [Hardcover]

Stewart Ross (Author), Richard Bonson (Illustrator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 078949857X | ISBN-13: 978-0789498571 | Publication Date: October 2003 | Edition: 1st

Tales of the Dead: Ancient Egypt is actually two books in one! It's a fact-packed reference work and a fast-paced fiction title seamlessly designed in a single volume. Young readers will love the exciting story of Egyptian society that snakes through the pages, the incredibly detailed illustrations, and the supporting nonfiction information that tells all the cool and sometimes grisly details of life in Ancient Egypt.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-This offering blends the popular cross-sections and a factoids format with a graphic novel. The story, told in strips along the tops, bottoms, and/or sides of the pages, is set during the reign of the pharaoh Sobekneferu and features the son of a priest inexplicably coming to the aid of a serving girl betrothed to the chief embalmer. The teens meet and follow the embalmer when he raids a tomb in one of the pyramids. When they try to gather evidence of his theft, he tries to kill them. Finally, he is discovered, and killed trying to escape. While this story meanders through the pages of this book, aspects of life in ancient Egypt are covered in the center of each spread. Places that the young heroes visit are discussed, including the pyramids, a temple, the House of the Dead, and the Nile. The information is presented in the usual DK format, with small bites of facts and lots of labeled pictures (all drawings); all of it can be found in numerous other books on Egypt, including many DK titles. Bonson's clear cross-sections and inside views are particularly good; they feature great details and can be easily viewed. However, the story is too weak to appeal to a general audience, and the information is too scant for a report. While the goal of making the ancient world accessible to children is laudable, this effort falls short.
Lynda S. Poling, Long Beach Public Library, CA
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About the Author

Stewart Ross is one of the world's most prolific writers, with over 175 titles published for adults and children. He has many prestigious awards to his credit, including ALA Book of the Year, ALA Young Adult Book of the Year, and the Benjamin Franklin Prize.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: DK CHILDREN; 1st edition (October 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078949857X
• ISBN-13: 978-0789498571
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 9.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #650,808 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #26 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Bible & Other Sacred Texts > Book of the Dead (Egyptian)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Illustrations-Weak Text, December 28, 2010

By 

Marco Antonio Abarca (Colorado) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tales of the Dead: Ancient Egypt (Hardcover)

"Tales of the Dead-Ancient Egypt" is an intertwined text that combines a short graphic novel and factoids about Ancient Egypt. The graphic novel tale of two kids and their run in with tomb robbers is basic and not especially good. But what really makes this book are the "factoids" and the wonderfully detailed illustrations that accompany them. Richard Bonson is a gifted illustrator who specializes in detailed cross sectional renderings of buildings. The Italian illustrators from Studio Inklink are an especially capable group of historical illustrators. The illustrations in this book are first rate and a used copy can be purchased at little cost. All in all, I thought "Tales of the Dead-Ancient Egypt" was a very good purchase.