Themes Familiar: Ancient Egyptians

Posted on Friday, November 11, 2022
Category: Book Blog

Themes Familiar: Ancient Egyptians

The Egyptians is an exciting unit to teach with primary children, offering plenty to capture both interest and imagination, making it a very popular choice for the depth study. With a wealth of books to choose from, children's understanding of and fascination for this rich and diverse period of history can be developed both in the classroom and beyond.

Themes Familiar: Ancient Egyptians
By Sue Wilsher


As part of the work outlined by National Curriculum for history at KS2, it is stated that pupils should be taught about:  the achievements of the earliest civilizations - an overview of where and when the first civilizations appeared and a depth study of one of the following: Ancient Sumer; The Indus Valley; Ancient Egypt; The Shang Dynasty of Ancient China.  To follow is a range of texts that can be used to support teaching and to encourage children to read beyond the class learning.


Stories for the Shelves:
Although these stories are great to have on hand to engage children with work in class, they should also be seen as a great way of developing connections, building foundations for new understanding and encouraging recall of previous learning. Having a range of historical fiction both in the library and book corners offers the opportunity for children to apply some of their learning from lessons to aid their understanding of these texts, but will also quicken curiosity.



A Mummy Ate My Homework - Time Travel Adventures  by Thiago de Moraes (Scholastic)
Ages 8+
Highly illustrated, fast paced and humorous, this time slip adventure sees Henry being whisked back in time to Ancient Egypt during the reign of Seti I. With plenty of historical details woven through Henry's adventure, there is much to recommend this accessible and engaging story. Some additional information is included at the end of the book and this is the first of Henry's adventures. Fans can follow him to Ancient Rome in 'A Gladiator Stole My Lunchbox'.


I Was There: Tutankhamun's Tomb by Sue Reid, illus Michael Garton  (Scholastic)
Ages 7+
Set during the events of Carter's discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb a hundred years ago, this is the story of Ali, a young boy who is employed as a water carrier for the dig. It offers a great introduction to these events and an author's note at the end offers further information about the tomb's discovery.


The Butterfly Club: The Mummy's Curse by M.A Bennett  (Welbeck Flame)
Ages 10+
Having travelled to the Titanic on their first adventure, Luna, Konstantin and Aidan accompany Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to see an unwrapping of a mummy. Professor Petrie, who led the event, is keen to locate the tomb of Tutankhamun before anyone else and The Butterfly Club are keen to support him.
Raising questions about respect for the dead, this story combines fact and fiction, offering a gripping story. Notes from the author at the end of the book further clarify some of the fact from fiction.


The Curse of the Tomb Robbers by Andy Seed, illus James Weston Lewis (Nosy Crow and The British Museum)
Ages 8+
Friends Nub and Iteti overhear a gang of tomb robbers plotting to raid Queen Neith's tomb so they set off a quest to stop them. Solving lots of puzzles along the way, from hieroglyphic words found in the marketplace to a confusing maze across the River Nile, they must try to reach the tomb in time to prevent the robbery. The story is full of facts about life in ancient Egypt and engaging puzzles to solve.


Find Tom in Time: Ancient Egypt by Fatti Burke (Nosy Crow and The British Museum)
Ages 6+
Perfect for fans of 'Where's Wally?', this book not only encourages children to look closely at the pictures to locate Tom and his cat, Digby, but also to find other objects from Ancient Egypt. Written in association with the British Museum, there is plenty to learn on every spread. Solutions to each puzzle are given at the end of the book and a detailed glossary and index are included.


Pharaoh's Fate by Camille Gautier, illus Stephanie Vernet (b small publishing)
Ages 8+
Beautifully illustrated, in this story children must identify and expose the person who is plotting to murder the Pharaoh. The reader travels through scenes from ancient Egypt whilst solving puzzles along the way.


Other books of interest
The Ancient Egypt Sleepover by Stephen Davies (Caboodle Books)
Ages 7+
Terry Deary's Egyptian Tales, illus by Helen Flook (Bloomsbury Education)
Ages 7+


Stories featuring real people and locations from Ancient Egypt:



Terry Deary Egyptian Tales: The Plot on the Pyramid (Bloomsbury)
Ages 7+
Terry Deary Egyptian Tales: The Magic and the Mummy (Bloomsbury)
Ages 7+
Terry Deary Egyptian Tales: The Gold in the Grave (Bloomsbury)
Ages 7+
Terry Deary Egyptian Tales: The Phantom of the Nile (Bloomsbury)
Ages 7+
The Time Travelling Cat and the Egyptian Goddess by Julia Jarman (Andersen Press)
Ages 9+
The Secret Explorers and the Tomb Robbers by SJ King (DK)
Ages 6+
Indiana Bones by Harry Heape, illus Rebecca Bagley (Faber)
Ages 8+


Books for Guided Reading or Class Texts:
Although not essential, some teachers like to use a text in English to help immerse their children in a particular topic, making connections with other areas of learning. With a subject like the Egyptians, this can help children develop their understanding of historical fiction and how to add details to their own work if writing in this style as well as deepening their understanding of a historical period.



Secrets of a Sun King by Emma Carroll (Faber)
Ages 10+
Set in 1922, Secrets of a Sun King is a fascinating historical story which cleverly uses the world's fascination with Howard Carter's discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb as its backdrop. The Great War is over, leaving the country relieved, but counting the heavy cost of the conflict. Social traditions and gender roles are being challenged and life will never be the same.
13-year-old Lilian, like much of the nation, avidly follows Carter's search for the Boy King's tomb, inspired by the fact that her grandfather used to be an archaeologist. When her grandfather falls ill, Lil intercepts a mysterious parcel addressed to him, sent by a famous Egyptologist, Professor Hanawati - who has been found dead. Lil decides she must fulfil the Professor's plea and return the contents of the parcel to its tomb on her grandfather's behalf. A chance encounter at the British Museum leads to the opportunity for a trip to Egypt with Tulip and Oz Mendoza, and their journalist mother and Lil is off on the adventure of a lifetime.
The sense of entitlement and ownership felt by the archaeologists plundering Egypt's tombs is cleverly questioned throughout the story, encouraging children to question these events and debate the moral questions surrounding many of the objects in museums across the world. The story offers many opportunities for discussion, writing in role, research, drama… great for developing both understanding of the period and English skills.


The Heart Scarab by Saviour Pirotta (Maverick)
Ages 8+
The first book of 'The Nile Adventures', the story focuses on Mahu and Renni. Although brothers, the boys are completely different. Older brother, Mahu, hatches a plot to rob the tomb of a general in the Valley of the Kings in an attempt to provide for his family and coerces his brother into agreeing. However, taking the general's heart scarab leads the boys into great danger.
Rich in historical detail, these books make strong guided reading texts, with much to question and discuss and plenty of opportunities for independent work to develop and support understanding. The second book, The Crocodile Curse, is also available with two more, The Jackal Graveyard and The Cat Goddess to follow.


The Histronauts: An Egyptian Adventure by Frances Durkin, illus Grace Cooke (B small publishing)
Ages 7+
This fact-filled graphic novel transports three children, Luna, Nani and Newton, and their cat, Hero back in time to Ancient Egypt. Whilst on a visit to the museum, Nani touches some papyrus and the children find themselves on the banks of the Nile where they meet Tia, a priestess who helps them find their way home again.
The book is packed full of facts and activities to try and the children's story would make a great starting point for research into many areas of Egyptian life. The format makes this a very accessible text with great potential.


Marcy and the Riddle of the Sphinx by Joe Todd Stanton (Flying Eye)
Ages 7+
One of the 'Brownstone Mythical Collection', when Arthur, now an explorer, fails to return from an expedition, it is up to his daughter, Macie to face her fears and rescue her father from the clutches of the Sphinx.
The story lends itself to much discussion, role play and research as well as offering plenty of inspiration for writing and encouraging children to share ore develop their understanding of Ancient Egypt through references in the text.


Casting the Gods Adrift by Geraldine McCaughrean (AC and Blacks)
Ages 8+
Set during the reign of Akhenaten, the heretic king, Tutmose and Ibrim's father, an animal dealer, is commanded to bring animals to the Pharaoh's new city. The story captures this revolutionary period of Egyptian history and offers a thrilling mystery story which lends itself to inspiring research, drama and writing in many forms.


The Scarab's Secret by Nick Would, illus Christina Balit (Frances Lincoln)
Ages 7+
Currently out of print, this is one to keep a look out for. Khepri is a small scarab beetle and this is the story of how he saves his friend, the Pharaoh of Egypt, and is honoured in return.
Lavishly illustrated by Christina Balit, this story offers many opportunities for inspiring writing.


The Story of Tutankhamun by Patricia Cleveland-Peck, illus Isabel Greenberg (Bloomsbury)
Ages 8+
Fully illustrated, The Story of Tutankhamun uncovers the life of this young king and the explorer who found his tomb. The book clearly introduces the characters which will be met along the way, combining pictures and information to make it a very accessible read.


This book offers many opportunities for role play, developing research skills, inspiring writing in a variety of forms and deepening children's understanding of this fascinating period of history.


Non-fiction:



The Curse of the Mummy: Uncovering Tutankhamun's Tomb by Candice Fleming (Scholastic)
Ages 9+
An extremely interesting and engaging read, The Curse of the Mummy explores the discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb, setting it in cultural and political context and acknowledging the ethical issues surrounding archaeology and this dig in particular.
With black and white photographs from the time and of Carter's dig, this book is perfect for offering to a child (or adult!) who wants to find out more. A detailed index, source notes and bibliography also make this a useful text for developing study skills.


Horrible Histories: Awful Egyptians by Terry Deary, illus Martin Brown (Scholastic)
Ages 7+
A perennial favourite, this is a bookshelf staple. Full of Martin Brown's wonderful illustrations, many children love to test their teachers with snippets of information gathered from these pages. With quizzes and cartoon strips, this engaging read also has an index to help locate specific information.


So You Think You've Got it Bad? A Kid's Life in Ancient Egypt by Chae Strathie, illus Marisa Morea (Nosy Crow and The British Museum)
Ages 7+
This very appealing text is full of information about life in Ancient Egypt, making it perfect for supporting children in discovering more about this fascinating period of history. Told with plenty of humour, 'A Kid's Life in Ancient Egypt' makes an attractive and informative research text (with glossary and index) as well as an entertaining read for dipping in and out of.


101 Stickers! Ancient Egypt, Illus by Sophie Beer (Nosy Crow and The British Museum)
Ages 3+
Offering eleven scenes from Ancient Egypt, this book includes stickers for children to add to create their own pictures. Each page offers a small amount of information, but the book offers plenty to discuss and things to spot, making it a very engaging introduction to this period.


Mummies Unwrapped by Tom Froese (Nosy Crow and The British Museum)
Ages 7+
Mummies Unwrapped is a very accessible guide to how the ancient Egyptians created and buried their dead. It also looks at the mummification of animals and what happened when tombs were discovered. Full of illustrations, the text is clearly laid out with a comprehensive glossary and index to help the reader understand and locate information efficiently.


Secrets of the Dead by Matt Ralphs, illus by Gordy Wright (Nosy Crow and The British Museum)
Ages 10+
Including mummies and human remains from around the world, this book allows the reader to compare and contrast burial practices from different civilisations. The section on Africa focuses on Egypt and the mummies of Tutankhamun, Rameses the Great and Gebelein man as well as how the Egyptians preserved and housed their dead.



Egypt Magnified by David Long, illus Harry Bloom (Wide Eyed)
Ages 7+
With a magnifying glass included to help readers explore the pages of the book, Egypt Magnified is full of interesting information and a list of things to spot on each page. The book covers a wide range of subjects including significant figures such as Imhotep and Akhenaten. Solutions to each page are included at the end of the book and more finding challenges are posed, including finding the mummy hidden on each page. The book concludes with a timeline and a glossary of useful terms.


Step Inside Ancient Egypt by Rob Lloyd Jones, illus Rachael Saunders (Usborne)
Ages 5+
Presented in a board book format with colourful illustrations and lift-the-flaps, this book offers short snippets of information about ancient Egypt, culminating with the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb.


The Egyptians: Hide and Seek History by Jonny Marx, illus by Chaaya Prabhat (360 Degrees)
Ages 6+
With information presented in easily manageable chunks combined with lift-the-flaps to investigate, this is an absorbing text. Technical vocabulary is explained through the course of the book and the vibrant illustrations are sure to capture interest and excite curiosity.


A Child's Introduction to Egyptology by Heather Alexander, illus Sara Mulvanny (Black Dog & Leventhal)
Ages 9+
Packed full of information and illustrations, this engaging book takes the reader from the beginning of the kingdom 4,500 years ago, through to the reign of Cleopatra in 31 BC. Having set the scene in terms of Egypt's location, the book continues with information on a range of topics including illustrated profiles gods and goddesses. The book contains a pronunciation guide and an index as well as activities to try.


Meet the Ancient Egyptians by James Davies (Big Picture Press)
Ages 7+
A highly visual and engaging introduction to ancient Egypt, this book combines bite-sized chunks of information with humorous illustrations, making it an accessible and informative choice.


'You Wouldn't Want To Be' series
Ages 7+
a Pyramid Builder by Jacqueline Morley, illus David Antram (Franklin Watts)
an Egyptian Mummy by David Stewart, illus David Antram (Wayland)
Cleopatra by Jim Pipe, illus David Antram (Franklin Watts)
Tutankhamun by David Stewart, illus David Antram (Book House)
This is a very popular, entertaining series, combining lively, fun illustrations with historical information. A glossary and index help young readers navigate these books and discover more about this fascinating period.


Seeker of Knowledge: The Man Who Deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphs by James Rumford (Houghton Mifflin)
Ages 7+
James Rumford introduces this remarkable man and the role he played in deciphering the secrets of the Rosetta Stone, fulfilling his lifelong dream. Beautiful illustrations bring Champollion's story to life, capturing his passion.


Focus on Pharaohs and other important people:



Interview with Cleopatra and Other Famous Rulers by Andy Seed, illus Gareth Conway (Welbeck Publishing)
Ages 8+
The question-and-answer style format and lively illustrations of this book make it an appealing and engaging read. Each interview is followed by additional information about the ruler. The book ends with a quiz and has a glossary and index to help the reader understand further.


Cleopatra Tells All by Chris Naunton, illus Guilherme Karsten (Thames and Hudson)
Ages 8+
Highly illustrated and entertaining, Cleopatra Tells All introduces the reader to Cleopatra and allows her to tell her story 'in her own words' - and it is an amazing story. The book also looks at sources who wrote about this enigmatic ruler and Alexandria, the city created by Alexander the Great. A glossary and index are included along with an explanation of how Roman numerals work.


King Tutankhamun Tells All by Chris Naunton, illus Guilherme Karsten (Thames and Hudson)
Ages 8+
Tutankhamun introduces himself to the reader and proceeds to tell his story in his own words, from how he became Pharaoh at the age of 9 to the discovery of his tomb by Carter and his team in 1922. He explores the theories surrounding his early death and the series of raiders who broke into his tomb. The book has a detailed index and glossary.


The Legend of Tutankhamun by Sally Morgan, illus by James Weston Lewis (Wren and Rook)
Ages 9+
Starting in 3100 BCE and the rise of Egypt, the book takes the reader through history to the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb by Carter's team in 1922. Short biographies are given of key players, including Hussein Abdou-el-Rasoul, a local Egyptian boy who has been credited with first discovering the steps to Tutankhamun's tomb. Quotes from Carter are included in the text and the book is fully illustrated.


Myths and legends:
Egyptian mythology is rich and diverse, comprising some of the oldest myths surviving today. There are many versions of these tales, some of which have been re-written for children to enjoy. Perfect for sharing at story time, many of these texts would also make fascinating guided reading texts.



Ancient Egypt Tales of Gods and Pharaohs by Marcia Williams (Walker)
Ages 7+
Presented in Marica Williams' unique comic strip style, this book contains a mixture of myths and stories of Pharaohs such as Cleopatra and Tutankhamun. Rami the cat offers additional information in a papyrus strip across the bottom of many of the pages or peeking round the edge of the main illustrations.


Ancient Egypt Gods, Pharaohs and Cats by Marcia Williams (Walker)
Ages 7+
Covering the same stories as the above title, this version develops the stories as prose with black and white, smaller versions of the illustrations. There are 10 Terrific Facts and a glossary at the end of the book.


Treasury of Egyptian Mythology by Donna Jo Napoli, illus Christina Balit (DK)
Ages 9+
Full of Christina Balit's stunning illustrations, this is a beautiful collection of re-tellings with additional information presented in side sections on each page. It offers a more challenging read than some other versions, but is well worth it.


Egyptian Myths by Jean Menzies, illus Katie Ponder (DK)
Ages 7+
This collection starts by setting the scene of Egypt's location before exploring a selection of myths. Full page spreads are given to each god and goddess with information about each, including their family and symbols. At the end of the book is a section entitled 'About the Myths' which offers more details about mummification, tombs and sacred animals. The book ends with a pronunciation guide, glossary and index.


Stories from Ancient Egypt by Joyce A Tyldesley, illus Julian Heath (Oxbow Books)
Ages 7+
A selection of myths with an explanation of each included, clearly and simply told.


Cinderella of the Nile by Beverley Naidoo, illus Marjan Vafaeian (Tiny Owl)
This is a version of the story of Rhodopis and is arguably the oldest known version of the Cinderella story. Beautifully retold by Beverley Naidoo, the story offers much to discuss and Marjan Vafaeian's illustrations perfectly complement the lyrical text, making it an excellent story to share.