Secrets of the Mummies (DK Readers, Level 4: Proficient Readers)

Discusses the Egyptian preservation of dead bodies, stories associated with mummies, and mummies from different cultures, including Incan and Sicilian

Grade 2-5-Intriguing tales and photographs of mummified remains are sure hooks for young readers. The book begins with background information on the ancient Egyptian process of preserving bodies followed by stories of mummification. The discovery of an Inca girl (most likely a human sacrifice), a Sicilian catacomb filled with 6,000 bodies, the amazing discovery of King Tut's tomb by Carter and Carnarvon in 1922, and the mysterious disappearance of the body of Argentina's Evita Peron are related. Plenty of color photos, with some especially creepy ones of the mummified villagers of Palermo (many of them still wearing their original clothes), are included. This volume is similar to Brenda Guiberson's Mummy Mysteries (Holt, 1998), but with a lower reading level and riveting illustrations. A good choice for reluctant readers.
Cathryn A. Camper, Minneapolis Public Library
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