Amateur Egyptologists, rejoice! Here is a list of chapter books in which the main characters time travel to ancient Egypt. More recent books are listed first. The list is followed by links to other online resources about ancient Egypt.
Egyptian Curse (Time Hunters, Book 6) by Chris Blake, (2014, 176 pages).
A relatively simple story for younger middle grade readers that moves along at a good clip. Book is enlivened with several line drawings. I didn’t appreciate the several pages at the end of the book devoted to marketing other books in the series. (my review)
Abracadabra Tut by Paige McBriar, (2014, 242 pages).
Get to know the teenage King Tut in Karnak. A suspenseful and funny tale, but I didn’t like the main female character. (my review)
Sons of the Sphinx by Cheryl Carpinello, (2014, 126 pages).
Summary from Amazon.com: Armed with what she considers her grandmother’s curse, 15-year-old Rosa agrees to help the ghost of King Tut find his lost queen Hesena. Though Hesena’s ba inhabits part of Rosa, finding the whole spirit of Hesena so that she and Tut can be together for the first time in over 3000 years proves to be a harder task than Rosa first thinks. Thrust back into Ancient Egypt with Tut, Rosa discovers that finding Hesena is not all she must do. She must keep out of the reach of the living Horemheb – who crosses mortal boundaries using Seth’s evil magic – if she is to stay alive to make it back home. (This is one of two time travel stories about ancient Egypt by the author.)
The Time-Traveling Fashionista and Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile by Bianca Turetsky, (2013, 256 pages).
This was probably my favorite of the six Egyptian time travel books I recently reviewed. I felt like I was really up close and personal with Cleopatra. Regretfully, I don’t think this book holds much appeal for boys. (my review)
The Golden Scarab: The Quest Series by S.W. Lothian, (2012, 236 pages).
This is the first in a series of three books. Evil crocodile statues come to life and threaten the lives of friends J.J., Sterling, and Rani. (my review)
Land of the Pharoahs (The Adventures of Toby Digz Book 1) by David Hernandez, (2003, 96 pages).
Summary from Amazon.com: Cutting-edge art paired with stories of fantastical adventure and biblical fact make the all-new Toby Digz series a must-have for young readers. Kids will relate to Toby’s predicaments and his quirky sense of humor. Parents will love the fact that Bible stories and biblical truths are woven throughout these tales of adventure. With a little help from their imaginations, Toby and his friends crawl through the makeshift cave in his tree house to find an ancient world of adventure. As Toby and the gang venture back in time, they meet major Bible heroes and learn-up close and personal-about the culture and history of biblical times
The Time-Travelling Cat and the Egyptian Goddess by Julia Jarmon,(2006, 128 pages).
Summary from Amazon.com: Topher and his father are trying to get over the death of Topher’s mother, an Egyptologist, when they take in a stray cat. This cat bears an uncanny resemblance to a cat ornament given to Topher by his mother, and so they name it Ka, meaning double. Topher becomes very attached to Ka and is puzzled by her mysterious absences. One day, when he is playing a computer game with an Egyptian theme, Ka jumps on the keys and spells out the name Bubastis, which was the center of cat worship in Ancient Egypt. Could Ka really be leading a double life, and what is she trying to tell Topher?
Tut, Tut by John Sczieska, (2004, 80 pages).
This is number six in Sczieska’s Time Warp Trio series. It’s a very light and funny tale; a quick read for reluctant readers. (my review)
Adventures in Ancient Egypt (Good Times Travel Agency) by Linda Bailey, (2000, 48 pages).
This is a really fun book, half a fictional story in cartoons, half non-fiction. Could be enjoyed by people of many ages. (my review)
Mummies in the Morning (Magic Treehouse #3) by Mary Pope Osborne, (1993, 80 pages).
Summary from Amazon:Jack and Annie are ready for their next fantasy adventure in the bestselling middle-grade series—the Magic Tree House!
Jack and Annie don’t need another mummy. But that’s what they get when the Magic Tree House whisks them back to ancient Egypt. There they meet a long-dead queen who needs their help. Will Jack and Annie be able to solve the puzzle, or will they end up as mummies themselves?
other resources:
lists of books:
- Ancient Egypt for Kids (A Goodreads list)
- the-best-childrens-books.org
- Children’s Books About Egypt (an Amazon list)
videos:
Lesson ideas for teachers:
Lots of great books here. Awesome they’re chapter books for younger readers.
Yeah, I find it kind of challenging to find chapter books for that reading level.
I know quite a few kids who are fans of anything Egyptian. This list will certainly be helpful in steering them in the right direction.
Hope it proves helpful!
What a great resource you put together! Thanks!
You are welcome!
What a great list! I’m especially intrigued by the The Time Traveling Fashionista. That sounds fun!
Yes, I was surprised I liked it so much.
Egypt seems to be a popular topic for books! When I was a senior in high school (long time ago), I did my English term paper on Egypt.
The more I learn about Egypt, the more I realize how fascinating it is.