4000 – 1782 B.C.
During the Old Kingdom, Egypt became famous for building the pyramids, massive tombs for pharaohs who were mummified to preserve their bodies for the afterlife. These early Egyptians believed deeply in the power of their gods and the journey after death. The Middle Kingdom followed, bringing stability and prosperity. This era saw the creation of some of the earliest Egyptian stories and literature, along with advances in art, architecture, and government. These two periods laid the foundation for Egypt’s lasting legacy.
Picture books
Mummies Made in Egypt
The why and how behind ancient Egyptian mummies
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Who Built the Pyramid?
A pyramid through the eyes of many different people who contributed to its building
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Pharaoh’s Boat
Boat-building explanation with detailed illustrations
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Muti’s Necklace
Modern retelling of an ancient story about a girl at Snefru’s court
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The Star-Bearer: A Creation Myth from Ancient Egypt
Lovely creation myth story from ancient Egypt
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The Shipwrecked Sailor: An Egyptian Tale with Hieroglyphs
Retelling of a story found on an ancient Egyptian scroll
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Chapter books
Pharaoh: Boy Who Conquered the Nile
Historical fiction for middle-grade readers about the first pharaoh, Narmer
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Non-fiction books
Where Are the Great Pyramids?
Detailed, comprehensive intro to the pyramids
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Pyramid
Beautifully detailed exploration of pyramid building and use
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The 5,000-Year-Old Puzzle: Solving a Mystery of Ancient Egypt
Join Will on a real dig as his uses archaeological evidence to answer questions about ancient Egypt
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Secrets Of The Sphinx
Exciting exploration of the evidence about who built the Sphinx and why
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You Wouldn’t Want to be a Pyramid Builder!
Humorous, informative look at pyramid workers
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