The Winged Cat [Paperback]

Deborah Nourse Lattimore (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

Merit is a servant girl in the temple of cat goddesses. In a rage, Waha, the High Priest, kills a sacred car, and Merit sees him do it.But when Merit reports the evil deed to Pharaoh, Waha denies that he is guilty>

"Hear me!" says Pharaoh. "You must each take the magic spells from the Book of the Dead and travel to the Netherworld." Will Truth conquer all?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An Egyptian servant girl journeys to the Netherworld to be judged against the scales of Truth; PW praised Lattimore's detailed, hieroglyphic-like art as "stunning," but observed that the illustrations are "not always successful [as] storytelling vehicles." Ages 7-10.
- storytelling vehicles." Ages 7-10.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5-- In clear, simple language, Lattimore tells the story of Merit, a courageous Egyptian serving girl whose sacred cat is murdered for a golden amulet by Waha, a greedy High Priest. Merit accuses Waha before Pharoah, but when he denies the crime, they are both sent on a journey to the Netherworld, where the gods will weigh their hearts and determine their fates. The journey is fraught with demons and dangers, but Merit's ability to read opens the 12 gates to the Hall of Judgment and, in the end, saves her from destruction. Although some of the details of the story are slighty confusing, there is a strong sense of drama that carries readers along and makes the conclusion just and satisfying. An afterword on Egyptian belief and customs clarifies some of the confusion; it's unfortunate the information wasn't given in an introductory note. The pages, textured with faint color, resemble papyrus, while the flat figures and stylized composition add to the authenticity. The illustrations are engrossing, filled with hidden pictures and elements of traditional Egyptian art and hieroglyphics that will bring viewers back to look again and again. A unique and interesting book to share with children, as well as excellent enrichment for the study of ancient Egypt. --Linda Boyles, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; First Edition edition (August 9, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064434249
• ISBN-13: 978-0064434249
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,446,611 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #61 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > Africa

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Original Tale of Ancient Egypt, November 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Winged Cat (Paperback)

The reason I like this book is the beautiful illustrations of Egyptian hieroglyphics and the different gods of the Egyptian pantheon. Ms. Lattimore usesthe correct historical terms while telling a good story. I use this story every year in my classroom as one tool to enrich my students' knowledge of ancient Egyptian culture. Each page is a learning experience for my sixth graders as they identify the different parts of the illustrations and its relationship to story. The Afterword gives details about Ancient Egypt.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and fun, September 23, 2005

By 

WriteAway77 "Ghost Writer" (floating in the ectoplasm) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Winged Cat: A Tale of Ancient Egypt (Hardcover)

I purchased this book on the recommendation of a friend, and couldn't be happier with it. My daughter loves cats, and sometimes likes to pretend to BE one of our 5 cats... so she really became involved in this book's mystical and ethical story. I love the illustrations and especially appreciate the artistic style - nicely situated between western and Egyptian. The decodable heiroglyphics is truly an inspiration. I was having trouble getting my little girl to respond to phonics (I am home schooling her), but after treating the heiroglyphics as just plain FUN, she took to the phonics with an attitude of fun as well. Lattimore makes her story both informative and fun.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Parents and Children Fascinated by Ancient Egypt, October 23, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Winged Cat (Paperback)

My kindergarten age child is burning with passion for anythingabout ancient Egypt. We enjoyed this story immensely and have read itmany times. Each time, we discover new meanings in the detailedillustrations and decodable hieroglyphics....

The story and picturesbring many elements of Egytian mythology alive in ways thatnon-fiction can't. My son and I have read lots of recent non-fictionabout Ancient Egypt. From our other reading it seems to me that, inThe Winged Cat, mythical story elements hew closely to what is knownabout Ancient Egyptian theology. END