SCM has reprinted Boy of the Pyramids by Ruth Fosdick Jones (originally published in 1950), and it is a GREAT read. I was engaged from the first page, and this is one of the first stories on Ancient Egypt that my "non-reader" son has enjoyed during our studies!

This short novel, written at about the 2nd to 5th grade level, is a story of a young Egyptian boy who was born into a wealthy family. The adventures he encounters and the descriptions of daily life in the shadow of the pyramids kept both my son and me entertained for the duration of the story. Kaffe is like many 10-year-old boys today--curious, interested, and mischievous. I love the way the customs, foods, dress, and habits of Ancient Egypt are woven into the telling as if you are reading about a 10-year-old in Seattle! Short, anecdotal sentences interspersed with the narrative help keep the reader informed as to what was considered "normal" in Ancient Egypt, such as the keeping of slaves.

I won't give away the fun of the story by telling the whole plot line, but honestly, this has been a story that we all enjoyed--a good mystery without any grizzly murders or inappropriate content. Ancient Egypt in reality had a lot of occult practices and beliefs that might make a parent wary of studying it too early. Boy of the Pyramids has none of that! There is no unnecessary sensationalism, and minimal time is spent on issues like death and burial routines. If you are looking for a story for your Ancient Egypt studies, or just a good read at any point, you will enjoy Boy of the Pyramids. I plan to give it a permanent place on our family bookshelf!

Product review by Heidi Shaw; The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, September 2008