Review by Booklist Review
Ancient Egyptian history is a complex thing, but Cleveland-Peck admirably distills the events surrounding the life, death, and discovery of the pharaoh Tutankhamun. Assisting this endeavor are large-scale, four-color cartoon illustrations that often mimic the style of ancient Egyptian artwork. An opening spread introduces key players in Tut's tale, via an identifying headshot. The text begins with the unrest of Tutankhamun's father, Akhenaten, caused by enforcing a new religion, and how the young king stabilized the land. An overview of his life and brief rule follow and include an excellent breakdown of the mummification process. Part Two, the lengthiest section of the book, is devoted to Howard Carter's 1922 discovery of Tut's tomb and an inventory of its contents. The text highlights evidence of the pharaoh's hasty burial and theories pertaining to the cause of his death. The final section addresses unanswered questions and ways in which modern science continues to shed light on this mysterious figure in history. This well-balanced, engaging book is a great entry into studies of the boy king.--Julia Smith Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-5-King Tutankhamun is a popular pharaoh despite having such a short reign-and most students are endlessly fascinated with the Boy King. Cleveland-Peck does a fine job of laying out information for younger readers. The text is formatted in either short paragraphs or captions beneath pictures. The language is easy to read and somewhat conversational, making this a book to hand to those who might not be the biggest fans of history or research. The cartoon illustrations are well done and add to the appeal. While the information presented is not new and could be found elsewhere, this book would be beneficial as a reference for readers uninterested in longer, denser biographies. VERDICT A supplemental purchase for nonfiction collections in need of shorter selections.-Paige Garrison, The Davis -Academy, Sandy Springs, GA © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
The mysterious life and death of King Tut and the story of Howard Carter's 1922 discovery of Tut's tomb are recounted in an engaging narrative. The majority of the book focuses on Carter's excavation and what was learned from the site. Greenberg's colorful, stylized illustrations recall the hybrid 2D/3D aesthetic of ancient Egyptian artwork, even in their depiction of modern people. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The story of the young king, his household, and the discovery of his tomb.It's a tale that's been done to death (so to speak), but Cleveland-Peck inserts homely details and forensic evidence that wrap Tutankhamun's brief life and sudden demise in layers of sympathy. For one thing, the cause of death remains unclear, as a bone chip in the royal skull is now known not to be the result, as once thought, of a blow to the head. For another, the tomb shows signs of being hastily finished and may have been prepared for someone else. Forging quickly on to the 20th century, the author trots in Howard Carter and details some of the "wonderful things" found in each successive chamber of the tomb, including, tragically, the mummified remains of two stillborn royal daughters. Greenberg's ancient Egyptian-style cartoon portraits flesh out the account with large-eyed, dark brown figures. These give way in ensuing chapters to views of Carter and his equally light-skinned patrons supervising the tomb's excavation. A chart labeled "The Hieroglyphic Alphabet" misleads, as hieroglyphics were only in part alphabetic, and there's little on the Egyptian gods. Still, it's a handsome presentation, and readers will be able to pull out a few new historical and cultural tidbits to go with the requisite treatment of ritual mummification and the legendary curse.Ill-fated and hastily buried he may have been, but his legacy remains one of archaeology's greatest hits. (Nonfiction. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
