With her usual flair for simplifying complex topics, Gibbons makes ancient Egyptian civilization accessible to young readers. She offers ample material for children exploring mummies, pyramids, and pharaohs for the first time. Much information is communicated through the watercolor illustrations and accompanying captions. The text is limited to a few short sentences at the bottom of each page, a feature that earmarks this title for independent reading. To explain the Egyptians' belief in an afterlife, Gibbons shows a man standing next to the outline of his own body. Inside the outline is a bright yellow star, depicting the man's soul. Easy definitions of Ka and Ba are provided, and the process of mummification is presented in a sequential, straightforward manner. The last page is packed with bonus facts that are sure to please new Egyptologists. This title is perfect for fans of Aliki's Mummies Made in Egypt (HarperCollins, 1979) and Joanna Cole's Ms. Frizzle's Adventures: Ancient Egypt (Scholastic, 2001).–Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.