Ancient Egypt
The scale of ancient Egyptian history is overwhelming. Americans (North and South) wrestle with the consequences of five hundred years of invasion, conquest, and settlement. Europeans argue over what delineates different phases of their history (modern, the rise of the nation-state, phases of the Renaissance, medieval, post-Roman, and so on). Well, that gets you back only 1500 years. Classicists pride their discipline on another thousand years. Egyptians look on, bemused. They go back 6000 years without breathing hard. Ancient Egypt (a deep and long category, obviously) represents a civilization that still fascinates us. Think pharaohs, pyramids, mummies, hieroglyphs, the Sphinx, the Nile, "King Tut." Children and adults love such stuff. I debated with myself whether to be a purist on Ancient Egypt and end my listings with Alexander the Great's conquest and the great era of the Ptolemaic dynasty, but you would miss so much in those 275 years leading up to the pragmatic and unimaginative Romans building their empire on Egyptian grain. I wanted to include the Pharos lighthouse, Alexandria and its library, Cleopatra. So I did, and I will. This page, these offerings, like the rest of Whistlestop, will be carefully curated and vetted and supplemented as I find and list interesting items.
Mummy Cat
Mummy Cat
Award-winning author Marcus Ewert and best-selling illustrator Lisa Brown bring an ancient Egyptian feline to life in a mummy love story that includes a story-within-a-story hieroglyphic tale and informative author's note. Perfect for cat lovers, and young Egyptologists.
Deep within this maze of stone,
a creature wakes up, all alone . . .
Mummy Cat prowls his pyramid home, longing for his beloved owner. As he roams the tomb, lavish murals above his head display scenes of the cat with his young Egyptian queen, creating a story-within-a-story about the events of centuries past. Hidden hieroglyphs deepen the tale and are explained in an informative author’s note.
Marcus Ewert and Lisa Brown’s smart, beautiful book is a marvel of sophisticated simplicity, infinitely engaging to examine in detail, and complete with a sweetly surprising plot twist sure to delight young cat-lovers and budding Egyptologists alike.
"Ewert’s rhyming picture book is an unexpected love story that anyone with a pet can appreciate. Kids will enjoy this memorable and touching introduction to mummies."
—School Library Journal
"Terrifically original."
—Publishers Weekly
"This stands out among the more straightforward nonfiction picture books about ancient Egypt, and primary-grade children will find much to ponder, explore, and discuss."
—Horn Book Magazine
* "Elegantly designed for young fans of Ancient Egypt, this sweet ghost story of a pet's love for its owner transcends time."
—Kirkus, starred review