Quick Expert: Ancient Egypt. (Crabtree Connections). Jill Laidlaw. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2011. 24 pp., pbk. & hc., $7.95 (pbk.), $18.36 (RLB.). ISBN 978-0-7787-9964-1 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-9942-9 (RLB.). Subject Heading: Egypt-Civilization-To 332 B.C.-Juvenile literature. Grades 1-5 / Ages 6-10. Review by Robert Groberman. **** /4
	Visit Egypt! (Crabtree Connections). Jill Laidlaw. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2011. 24 pp., pbk. & hc., $7.95 (pbk.) $18.36 (RLB.). ISBN 978-0-7787-9978-8 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-9956-6 (RLB.). Subject Headings: Egypt-Juvenile literature. Egypt-Description and travel-Juvenile literature. Egypt-Antiquities-Guidebooks-Juvenile literature. Grades 1-5 / Ages 6-10. Review by Robert Groberman. **** /4

excerpt:

I hope you are not afraid of dark tunnels. The entrance to the Great Pyramid is a narrow, low corridor. It is very cramped. The corridor plunges down into the pyramid, leading to an unfinished chamber. (From Visit Egypt!.)

In her massively photo-illustrated nonfiction works, Visit Egypt! and Quick Expert: Ancient Egypt, author Jill Laidlaw presents readers with an age appropriate context for the famous history and treasures of ancient Egypt. The text in each book is presented as a well-organized history of ancient Egypt. The table of contents in Quick Expert: Ancient Egypt sets out topics including "Who Were the Egyptians," "Trade and the Army," and "Mummies." A glossary, index and list of books and web sites to check for further information are included at the end of the book. In Visit Egypt!, chapters include "The Biggest Pyramid on Earth," "Tutankhamun," and "Temples of the Dead." There are also a glossary, index and website page at the end of this book.

      The information text in these books is mostly presented as short capsules and as captions for photographs. Interesting facts are printed in separate boxes on the page with the title "Did you know?" One such box states: "Soldiers grew their hair long to protect their heads-only the commanders had helmets."

      These books will attract the interest of 6 to 10-year-olds with the many photographs and short, separated chunks of text. The reading level of these texts would fall into the grade 3 to 4 range.

Highly Recommended.

Robert Groberman is a grade three teacher at Kirkbride Elementary School in Surrey, BC.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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