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Our latest issue, Issue 26 | Gift of the Nile, takes readers on a journey to ancient Egypt. Kids can uncover the extraordinary stories of powerful pharaohs, magical medicine, and so much more. With over 3,000 years of history, ancient Egypt offers a fascinating world to explore.
As always, we wanted to share some additional resources to help parents and kids as they dive further into ancient Egyptian history.Â
Researchers and Aspiring Academics
Curious to learn more about ancient Egypt? Here are some introductory texts to get you started.
A History of Ancient Egypt by Marc Van De Mieroop: This text offers a thorough overview of one of the world’s oldest civilizations. The book is both informative and approachable, making it a great place to begin your research journey.Â
The Oxford Illustrated History of Ancient Egypt edited by Ian Shaw: This text delves into the political, social, and cultural aspects of ancient Egypt. It is an excellent choice for both casual readers and serious Egyptology enthusiasts.
The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt by Richard H. Wilkinson: Want to learn more about ancient Egypt’s gods and goddesses? This is the perfect place to start. Wilkinson’s book offers a comprehensive guide to the ancient deities and is filled with helpful images.Â
The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut's Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt by Kara Cooney: In Issue 26, we dove into some of ancient Egypt’s most powerful female rulers. This book explores the life of Egypt’s second female pharaoh: Hatshepsut. It offers a fascinating look into her rise to power and a legacy that was nearly forgotten.
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Statue of Hatshepsut, ca. 1479–1458 B.C. Image credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Parents and Educators
Explore these free online resources to build lesson plans for your home or classroom.
Google Arts and Culture’s Ancient Egypt: Mummies and Mysteries: This online resource is packed with information. You can find games, videos, virtual tours, and more. We recommend this lesson plan. It’s filled with engaging activities and interactive features.Â
BBC Bitesize: Kids can learn more about ancient Egypt through this collection of animated videos and activities. The videos dive into topics such as hieroglyphs, Tutankhamun, daily life, and archaeology.
Kelsey Museum of Archaeology: The Kelsey Museum of Archaeology at the University of Michigan has a free downloadable Teacher Resource Guide for grades K-12. This helpful guide includes maps, diagrams, object photos, introductory videos, and classroom activities.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Learn how to paint like an Egyptian with this engaging activity. Kids can explore the world of ancient art while making their very own Egyptian paintbrush. The MET offers several other helpful online resources, such as How to Weave a Basket, so be sure to check those out too.Â
The British Museum: The British Museum has some great online activities for kids. Try a fill-in-the-blank exercise about mummies or label canopic jars to test your knowledge. There is a whole range of resources for both students and teachers.
Canopic jars were used to hold organs that were removed from the body during mummification. Image credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
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Young Historians
When it comes to ancient Egypt, there are plenty of kids’ books to choose from! Here are some of our top picks.Â
Tales of Ancient Egypt: Myths & Adventures from the Land of the Pyramids by Hugo D. Cook, illustrated by Sona Avedikian: This illustrated book shares ancient Egypt’s lesser-known myths and stories, from magical boats to mysterious pirates. It’s also written by our advisor for Issue 26 | Gift of the Nile! Discover the magic, mystery, and adventurous tales of the ancient civilization.
Pharaoh’s Boat written and illustrated by David Weitzman: This beautifully illustrated book is a perfect introduction to ancient Egyptian history and engineering. It tells the the story of a massive ship built for a pharaoh and the ship's astonishing rediscovery centuries later. The book's stunning illustrations and poetic text help bring this historic ship back to life.Â
Pharaohs and Foot Soldiers: One Hundred Ancient Egyptian Jobs You Might Have Desired Or Dreaded by Kristin Butcher, illustrated by Martha Newbigging: What was life like in ancient Egypt? In this book, kids can explore a hundred jobs that kept ancient Egypt running. From pharaohs to sandal-makers, this book provides a fascinating glimpse into the daily lives of those who built one of history's oldest civilizations.
Hieroglyphs from A to Z: A Rhyming Book With Ancient Egyptian Stencils for Kids by Peter der Manuelian: If you’ve read Issue 26, you’ll know that Egyptologists need to study their hieroglyphs. In this book, kids can start learning about the ancient writing system. It’s the perfect choice for a future Egyptologist.Â
If you want to learn more about ancient Egypt, we hope you’ll check out our educational magazine Issue 26 | Gift of the Nile. Stay tuned as we continue to share research tips and resources for future issues!