Ten Little Mummies - Hardcover

Philip Yates; G. Brian Karas

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0670036412 ISBN 13: 9780670036417

Publisher: Viking Juvenile, 2003

Synopsis

Ten little mummies become bored with staying in a room together all day, but when they go outside to play, they seem to disappear, one by one.

About this title

From Booklist:

PreS-Gr. 1. Ten little mummies, "bored stiff," break out of their tomb for a day of hijinks in this rambunctious counting tale set in Ancient Egypt. Bouncy rhymes filled with painful puns (the mummies are "wrapped up in themselves") tell the story: as the mummies cavort through the desert, sandstorms, chariot races, hippos, and more claim members of the group in a descending countdown that ends with one lonely mummy, who returns to the tomb to discover that her pals have already safely returned. Karas' childlike pencil-and-paint illustrations are a perfect accompaniment to the energetic silliness of Yates' words. A mix of shifting perspectives shows quintessential Egyptian images, such as the Sphinx, and the mummies themselves are irresistible. With wide, expressive cartoon smiles; dot eyes; and spindly stick limbs, the playful mummies will easily pull children into their adventures. An excellent read-aloud, even for youngsters who have already mastered 1 through 10. More facts about ancient Egypt appear on the endpapers. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-Grade 2-"Bored stiff" in their tomb, 10 little mummies venture out to play. One by one, they fall victim to hippos, heat stroke, and other desert disasters until the last lonely creature returns to her tomb-only to find the other nine waiting to surprise her. The book's reverse-counting scheme and rhyming text are modeled on familiar preschool finger rhymes, but early elementary readers will be more likely to giggle at the antics ("8 little mummies/committed hijinks./One was arrested for painting the/Sphinx"). Karas sets comic, stick-figure creatures loose on bare-bones desert landscapes. Lively pencil strokes keep the mummies tumbling and twirling across the simple landscape of rounded dunes and angular pyramids. A smattering of "Ancient Egyptian Facts" with silly commentary is printed on the endpapers. A fun read-aloud best suited to Halloween or Egyptian-themed storytimes.
Eve Ortega, Cypress Library, CA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Viking Juvenile
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0670036412
• ISBN 13: 9780670036417
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 40