Review: Mummies

Summary: Why were mummies mummified? These mysterious corpses provide a fascinating window on the past of cultures worldwide. This colorful book has plenty of ghoulish intrigue to keep young readers reading. They'll learn about the science behind the myths through a compelling combination of fun, facts, jokes and captivating photography.

Get kids reading with lots of cool information about subjects that matter to them! The “National Geographic Readers” series does this with simple, fun text, colorful photos and kid-friendly diagrams. Each book falls into one of five reading levels.

Developed in close consultation with literacy education experts, this new series is one teachers, librarians, parents, and grandparents know they can trust to nurture every child's love of reading. -- National Geographic Kids

What little guy could resist this cover? Certainly not five year old Booking Son! MUMMIES by Elizabeth Carney is probably not a book that I'd just pick up on my own because I found the cover a little disturbing (and gross.) And I didn't think I was interested in learning about mummies, but I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. I actually learned a great deal!

MUMMIES is published by National Geographic Kids, and it's part of their National Geographic Readers Series -- this particular book is a Level 2. I love the idea of this series! These books not only teach kids to read, but they also provide lots of valuable information on a wide variety of topics. I think it's a bonus that they are learning about science and nature while they are also learning to read. MUMMIES is exactly what you'd expect from a National Geographic Kids publication. This book is filled with loads of fun facts, and the pictures are absolutely amazing. Even the most reluctant readers are going to love this book!

I admit that I didn't know much about mummies prior to reading this book; however, this little guide provided me with a lot of interesting information. The book explained how ancient civilizations made mummies, and it also showed how mummification occurred naturally. I especially liked the step-by-step drawings that showed "How to Make a Mummy." In addition, there are even sections about Mummy curses and animal mummies.

While Booking Son enjoyed having the book read to him, I definitely think MUMMIES is ideal for children who are starting to read independently. I was extremely impressed with this book, and I can't wait to explore some of the Level 1 books in the National Geographic Readers Series for Booking Son.

Thanks to Media Masters Publicity for providing us with a copy of this book.