November 1, 2019
Gr 4-8-These books are filled with facts, features, and gorgeous Egyptian art. However, the short sentences are so choppy, clunky, and ungraceful that reading these rich, unique myths is joyless and ponderous. Moreover, vocabulary in this series, aimed at reluctant readers, isn't necessarily elementary. Most new words are defined immediately; occasionally, words, sometimes names, appear without explanations and pronunciation guides. There are sidebars in each title. "Real-World Connection" discusses someone whose work reflects the deity's; "Family Tree" lists the god's relatives; "Cross-Cultural Connection" describes a similar god from another culture; "Explained by Science" gives a real-world explanation of the god's superpower. "Did You Know?" provides additional information about the god; "Consider This!" presents three critical thinking activities whose vocabulary and sentence structure are on a higher level than the main text's. VERDICT Detailed, visually dazzling, and offering impressive learning add-ons, but only limited purchase recommended.
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