Ancient Egypt Booklist

I was completely obsessed with Ancient Egypt as a child, and it's always been one of my favorite things to teach about. Over the summer I did some impulse shopping and vastly expanded my collection of Ancient Egypt books. Now I have a tutoring client who wants to do a block on this topic so I need to re-organize myself. I can't simply follow my previous teaching notes because they don't include all the new titles!

So I'm going to just begin by putting all the books in a list here.

I'll also put notes as to what each book is most useful for. If something is a dud, I'll note that too. I do NOT recommend that anyone shop the way that I do, since it has put quite a strain on my house (not to mention my finances). So start with what's at your library!

updated January 18, 2022

The Past Lives Again by Edna McGuire
fantastic vintage textbook (1950) perfect for learning about How They Lived

The "Egypt, the Gift of a River" chapter is on pages 33-76 and covers "A Glimpse of the Nile Valley," "The People and Their Government," "New Knowledge and New Ways," "Religious Beliefs," and "Homes and Home Life."

Gods and Pharaohs from Egyptian Mythology
by Geraldine Harris
many Egyptian legends told in a lively fashion as stories (with dialogue), information about pharaohs is interwoven and presented chronologically

Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt
by Morgan Moroney
strictly the who's who of gods and goddesses, many lesser-known deities, not as well written but very useful, sidebars & a few photographs of artifacts

String, Straightedge & Shadow: The Story of Geometry
by Julia Diggins
chapter 5, "The Rope-Stretchers"
this whole book is done in grade 6 but you can absolutely do this chapter now in grade 5 (and it is so fun to make your own Ancient Egyptian Level!)

Pharaoh's Boat
by David Weitzman (Cheops)
this book is amazing! so interesting! buy it! I like to read it before Pyramid

Pyramid
by David Macaulay
wonderful if your child is interested in tools and how-to, amazing drawings, goes extremely well after chapter 5 of String, Straightedge & Shadow
your library will definitely have this book

Mathematicians Are People, Too: Stories from the Lives of Great Mathematicians
by Luetta and Wilmer Reimer
want to sneak in even more math? read chapter 1 about Thales of Miletus and the problem of "How High Is the Pyramid?"

The Mummy Makers of Egypt
by Tamara Bower (Yuya and Thuya)
A-MAZ-ING! if you are interested in every detail of the mummification process, get this book (and Tutankhamen was Yuya's great-grandson)

Tutankhamen's Gift
by Robert Sabuda (Akhenaton, Tutankhamen)
explains the monotheism of Akhenaton and how Tutankhamen reversed it, this is one to buy (goes well with The Mummy Makers of Egypt)

Tut's Mummy: Lost... and Found
by Judy Donnelly (Tutankhamen)
nice to follow Pyramid by David Macaulay (Old Kingdom vs New Kingdom) or if your child is really really interested in the archaeological expedition but doesn't contain as many color photographs of the treasure as we had hoped

What Life was Like on the Banks of the Nile: Egypt 3050 - 30 BC
by Time-Life
if you want lots and lots of full-color photographs, this is the book for you! simply beautiful

Temple Cat
by Andrew Clements
light on information about Ancient Egypt but adorable & thought-provoking; worth getting from the library

Nile Crossing
by Katy Beebe
lovely historical fiction picture book, this is one to buy

The Story of Clocks and Calendars
by Betsy Maestro
Ancient Egyptian calendars: lunar (p.15) and solar (p.16)
they were the first civilization to switch to a solar calendar!
your library will definitely have this book

Buried Blueprints: Maps and Sketches of Lost Worlds and Mysterious Places
by Albert Lorenz (Ramses II)
oversized book with very cool pictures which really do require a magnifying glass, contains one extremely detailed scene for each "mysterious place," Ancient Egypt scene depicts the construction of a necropolis for Ramses II

Seeker of Knowledge: The Man Who Deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphs
by James Rumford
useful to have, pair with You Can Write Hieroglyphs

You Can Write Hieroglyphs
by James Rumford
really really nice resource! I would even buy this instead of the stamp set, since it shows children step-by-step how to draw each hieroglyph simply

Muti's Necklace: The Oldest Story in the World
retold by Louise Hawes
retelling of an ancient legend, changed significantly from the original

The Shipwrecked Sailor: An Egyptian Tale with Hieroglyphs
by Tamara Bower
really nice if you're looking for an authentic Ancient Egyptian story

How the Amazon Queen Fought the Prince of Egypt
by Tamara Bower
another authentic Ancient Egyptian story, a bit harder to follow than The Shipwrecked Sailor

Pharaoh's Soldier
by Bill Petty (Tau, Kamose, Ahmose, Amenhotep, Thutmose)
this is authentic but dull unless your child is super-interested in military engagements (goes well with The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw)

The Egypt Game
by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
a well-loved classic! Ancient Egypt-inspired but set in modern times

The Golden Goblet
by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
historical fiction, winner of a Newbery Honor, beautifully written!
if desired, read Pharaoh's Soldier by Bill Petty first (Thutmose)

Mara, Daughter of the Nile
by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
historical fiction set during the time period of Queen Hatshepsut, great book but contains some sexual tension, recommended for middle school and up

resources for activities

Make Your Own Papyrus Kit
this is the one we have used! available at Bella Luna Toys

Looking into Math Book 3
by Susan Gardner and Silvia Acosta
Ancient Egyptian numerals, pages 13 & 14


Fun with Hieroglyphs, New Edition
by Catherine Roehrig


Fun with Hieroglyphs, Old Edition
by Catherine Roehrig
I have the OLD version which I've had since I was a child
(check eBay for an inexpensive used copy)
pro tip: fax paper rolls make perfect scrolls


Ancient Egyptian Costumes Paper Dolls
by Tom Tierney
I've had these since I was a child, absolutely treasure them, wonderful!


Passing Through the Netherworld: The Meaning and Play of Senet, an Ancient Egyptian Funerary Game
also something I've had since I was a child, this fascinating board game is well worth tracking down

make Ancient Egyptian recipe: Honey Marshmallow Nougat with Marshmallow Root

see my notes in this blog about Building an Ancient Egyptian Level and Making a Chicken Mummy

books with information about dung beetles (for Ra)

A Beetle Is Shy
by Dianna Hutts Aston


The Beetle Book
by Steve Jenkins


I See a Kookaburra! Discovering Animal Habitats Around the World
by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page


Seeds Move!
by Robin Page

The Day Of Ahmed's Secret
by Florence Parry Heide
takes place in modern-day Cairo but wonderful for talking about what it would be like to live in a place filled with these antiquities (I used it before doing our watercolor painting of the Sphinx); also a fantastic fit for Capital Letters in First Grade (his secret is that he has learned to write his name)

Cleopatra and Ancient Egypt for Kids: Her Life and World, with 21 Activities
by Simonetta Carr
Cleopatra's life step-by-step, best for Roman History block in Sixth Grade

Life in Ancient Egypt
by Adolf Erman
I had this book but sold it. comprehensive but DENSE. to me, unusable

DK Eyewitness Books: Ancient Egypt
not yet read

Mummies Made in Egypt
by Aliki
not yet read

Writings from Ancient Egypt
by Toby Wilkinson
not yet read

Between Heaven and Earth: Birds in Ancient Egypt
by Rozenn Railleul-LeSuer
not yet read

This post contains affiliate links to materials I truly use for homeschooling. Qualifying purchases provide me with revenue. Thank you for your support!