Voices of Ancient Egypt

Rating:
Summary: A fresh, gorgeous book to learn about everyday work in Egypt
Review: Gorgeous watercolor illustrations of workers busy at work accompany text in prose style in this non-fiction picture book for children. The writing is eloquent and is a fresh change from the usual content of most history books. Using first-person narrative, the worker tells what their job is like. Some examples of the vocations covered are launderer, scribe, farmer, pyramid-builder, embalmer, and dancer.

There are two pages of background information about the 13 vocations, and a list of source materials at the back that is helpful for locating more resources to use when learning about life in Ancient Egypt.

I can't say enough about the beautiful illustrations by Barry Moser. The cover's illustration is exactly the type of high-quality work that lies inside the book. The background paper for the entire book looks similar to papyrus. A wonderful book! I hope that National Geographic makes this one in a series and that future book have equally high quality writing and illustrations.

Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful and informative book about Ancient Egypt
Review: This is a beautiful book and will be a great addition to classrooms and libraries, as well as to homes. Children study Egypt in sixth grade, and this book will add to their knowledge. But it is more than an informative book. It is unique in the way it is written. It is told from the point of view of different workers in Ancient Egypt--not the pharoahs we are used to hearing about, but the every-day people who made the kingdom run. And the voices are poetic and lyrical.
Kay Winters, the author, has written an excellent book and Barry Moser, the illustrator has painted beautiful pictures. The book makes me want to go to Egypt--or at least to give a piece of Egypt to the children I know. It will be a favorite Christmas gift this year.

Rating:
Summary: About the daily lives and jobs that Egyptian people held
Review: Voices Of Ancient Egypt is an extensively researched picture book that presents simple, moving poems by Kay Winters about the daily lives and jobs that Egyptian people once held, including scribe, marshman, birdnetter, weaver, goldsmith, and more. Flowing illustrations by Barry Moser and historical notes complement this excellent and fascinating National Geographic "window" into ancient times for young folks.