As ancient Egypt is increasingly added to the curriculum in the early elementary grades, it is not surprising to find a series written specifically for these new young readers. Six small books cover hieroglyphics, Cleopatra, gods and goddesses, King Tut's tomb, pyramids and mummies. A Brown University Egyptologist served as consultant to the series, and there is considerable accurate detail about each topic. The series is worthy of a place on the bookshelf in a library or classroom, especially if the subject is mandated in the early elementary curriculum. In this particular title, there are full color photographs of tomb paintings with easily read hieroglyphics, an easy to use chart comparing the western and hieroglyphic alphabets, and an excellent explanation of how some hieroglyphs were created: "The Egyptian word for mouth was said with an 'r' sound. In writing, a picture of a mouth stands for that same sound." There are a few lines of large text on each page as well as a simple, brief index to help the youngest children write their very first report. Each book includes a glossary with words identified both in the text and at the end, as well as a page of additional resources, and an activity such as spelling your name in hieroglyphics on a cartouche.

Highly Recommended.