Tutankhamun

by Demi (Author)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

After thirty-two centuries of lying hidden in the Egyptian Valley of the Kings, King Tutankhamun's sacred, royal tomb was discovered by a British archaeologist, and Tut's story became known throughout the world. Demi sets King Tutankhamun's life in the context of the religious beliefs of his ancestors.

Born to a pharaoh who had the revolutionary idea that all of Egypt must worship only one god, Tut ascended the throne and restored religious freedom to the Upper and Lower kingdoms. He allowed his subjects to worship either the one god, Aten, of his father or the many shapes and forms of the sun god, Amun, whom they had worshiped since ancient times.

Using research that includes the artifacts in King Tutankhamun's tomb, Demi shares the rich details of the king's life, from ostrich to lion hunts, to the challenges of ruling his Kingdom. Demi's storytelling skills and magnificent artwork, inspired by Egyptian line in paintings, architecture, sculpture, and jewelry, reveal the life of a remarkable king who has been watching us "across a span of more than 3,000 years."

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$19.99

School Library Journal

Gr 4-7 Luxuriously detailed, brilliantly colored, and drenched with gold, Demi's biography of the "boy king of Egypt" is, unfortunately, easier to look at than it is to read. Palace intrigue, violence, secret tombs, and beautiful queens add some sparkle to an otherwise rather dull text. In addition, much attention is paid to Tutankhamun's father's rejection of Amun and the other gods in favor of Aten, a rather abstract concept. Although indisputably beautiful, the illustrations suffer from an inert quality, in part due to the Egyptian style the artist is echoingflat and declarative, with each figure shown in profile. Supplement this title with Zahi Hawass's "Tutankhamun: The Mystery of the Boy King" (National Geographic, 2005) for photographs and text that focus on the archaeology and objects found in Tutankhamun's tomb."Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD" Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Demi

Demi has adapted and illustrated many folktales for children, including The Donkey and the Rock, Liang and the Magic Paintbrush, and The Dragon's Tale. She lives in Carnation, Washington.

Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9780761455585
Lexile Measure
940
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Two Lions
Publication date
October 20, 2009
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF007020 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Historical
JNF025020 - Juvenile Nonfiction | History | Ancient
Library of Congress categories
History
Egypt
To 332 B.C
Pharaohs
Tutankhamen
Nineteenth dynasty, ca. 1320-1200 B.C

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