'Nile Crossing' by Katy Beebe with illustrations by Sally Wem Comport is a picture book telling an unusual version of a first day of school story.

Young Khepri lives with his family in ancient Egypt. He spends his days fishing with his father, but today is a different day. Today Khepri will cross the Nile with his father and enter the city of Thebes.

The story kind of ends, but there is some after story with more history and a glossary. The illustrations are really very interesting. They have a kind of old Egyptian feel to them. The story tells a historical sort of story with familiar elements. I really liked this story for younger readers.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

The story was imagination of the education system and lifestyle during the ancient Egyptian time period. And story take place in that era. It was about the boy, Khepri, attending his first day of the school. How his day rose differently, instead of going to fishing he visits school, how different he felt and thought about that day, and how he overcame his anxiety of new day and new school.

What I liked-
There was the mention of various Egyptian Gods, what are they for. The picture of the Gods were illustrated on the same page to show children how they look. In the school while making friend Khepri learn to write. On that page how ancient Egyptian used Papyrus and Reed to write was told in easy language. Few information given were really good like, there are 700 sign used in Egyptian text and ibis, the bird in this Hieroglyph, is first sign of God Thoth’s name which was also illustrated in the book. There was glossary at end of the book as well. This picture book is good as a history lessons for children.

Khepri’s fear of first day in the school was narrated in innocent way. I liked that he also understood that he would make friends in the school and he has nothing to fear. So this was not like in modern way how parents explain their children importance of school and what he will expect on first day of the school but it was totally like the ancient period when children learn everything by experience and do not voice their fear it to parents. The story was in the time period (c. 1550 – 1070 BCE.) which was mentioned in the last few pages of the story and period was explained in a way children could understand.

Illustrations were like paintings, landscape and details in appearance of people were taken into consideration. This book is for academic purpose where teachers could tell stories and at the same time teach about Egyptian history.

Why not full stars-
I feel, this is little advance for children. Definitely not for 5 – 7 yr. children. They may not know half the words in the book like hieroglyphs or scarab, even though glossaries were given or can understand about Egyptian history. So it might not cover wide audience.

Overall, I liked the story and all the information about Ancient Egyptian and schooling system in that era. I recommend to children who are interested in learning history and for school libraries.

The Nile Crossing is a lovely short story about a little boy in Ancient Egypt about to start school, it reads almost like a poem at times and although it is not a true story, it is probably quite accurate to what it would have been like for a young boy leaving home to become his training as a scholar. The illustrations are very in keeping with the story and the glossary at the end is a nice touch. I did enjoy how the names of the Egyptian gods and goddesses were worked in to the story too to help with learning - 4 stars from me

One of history's least known subjects, this novelette provides a sneak peak into the life of a young Egyptian scribe adeptly named Khepri. We follow Khepri's first day of school from sunrise and his journey across the Nile with his father. At first I didn't realize it was his first day of school because of how the writer described Khepri's father just handing him a pencil case and abruptly leaving without even saying a word. However, Beebe's dialogue coupled with the beautiful and accurate illustrations of Comport, which include the written Egyptian language of hieroglyphics, help draw the reader through a time portal to the New Kingdom. Towards the end of the novelette, there are small summaries written by Beebe and Comport concerning the behind the scenes of the main protagonist life and a glossary of terms used as well as life in general during this period in Egyptian history.

The Nile Crossing is a lovely short story about a little boy in Ancient Egypt about to start school. Although it's not a true story and doesn't necessarily 'teach' children about Ancient Egypt, it uses lots of interesting and subject related vocabulary which will introduce (there's a glossary at the back) or consolidate children's understanding. The illustrations are beautiful and engaging - I imagine it would inspire lots of children to write and illustrate their own stories in the same style within the classroom.
An excellent book for children learning about Ancient Egypt.

Thank you to Netgalley and William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company for being able to read this book prior to its publishing date.

Perfect for the young Egyptologist, this informative book explores the environments of Egyptian city and country life on a boy’s first day of school. Quality illustrations by Sally Wern Comport aid the reader in spanning the centuries, easily transporting us back into the days of antiquity. Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ebook for review.

Perhaps educational--but a far cry from the original publishing goals of Eerdman's. We'll pass on this one.

I was so proud of this authors book. I love the colors and illustrations. I was happy to see both history and another culture represented. I think is great for kids on their first day of school to understand that kids no matter where you live have similar struggles and experiences and they are not alone in that. I like all the history references and images so it can be a tool to keep learning many things as well. I enjoyed this book and feel it would be worth the buy for a family.

A boy in Ancient Egypt travels with his father on the Nile to attend his first day of school. This interesting book which mentions several of the gods of Ancient Egypt is an interesting addition to a growing collection of children's books published by Eerdmans. The research notes at the end of the book provide further information to help readers (and teachers) with this book rooted in ancient history. The accompanying illustrations are well-done. The glossary will be a helpful addition for younger readers not familiar with many of the terms. I received an advance e-galley of the book for review purposes through NetGalley.

Although the theme of the first day of school is universal, not sure if this book will resonate universally. If you live in the part of the world where arriving to school by small boat, then yes. So that may not hold the interest of children if they can't fathom the possibility and because of the ancient time period in which this first day takes place, it appears it will be tough sledding to gain a wide audience. The illustrations weren't popping off the screen, I read a digital copy. Perhaps the physical book presents a more lively presentation. The story is solid and the the best redeeming quality of this book. Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced ebook. The book publishes Oct. 23, 2017

Even more than three thousand years ago kids had anxieties about the first day of school. Here we follow a small boy as his father takes him across the river to his new school. He’s excited for something new, but wants to cling to the old.
“The words we do not say fill the hush of dawn.” Kind of an oxymoron—though you can argue it works the same as “The silence speaks volumes”—but sounds beautiful. I recommend you read it out loud. Another line I love: “Not a bad start, as the serpent said when he swallowed the toe of the hippopotamus.” The whole story has a very poetic style, though I’m wondering what age group this is recommended for, as it might be too much for most.
The painting style isn’t meant to be lifelike, especially as far as the humans, but the landscapes, and particularly the skies, are beautiful.
At the end it leaves the first-person perspective and visual style to talk about the classroom and his making a new friend. The author’s and illustrator’s notes are quite informative, making me want to read it all over again from this new perspective. It even includes a glossary.

This year, or class studied Ancient Egypt and this book would have been an excellent addition to our bookshelf. Nile Crossing told the story of a boy gathering courage to try something new: go to school and learn a new trade. It was courage from not only the boy, but also the mother and father. This would be a great story to share at the beginning of school to discuss feelings about starting something new or even a discussion about how you get to school. I appreciated the in depth explanation after the story about the ancient Egyptian culture and writings. I enjoyed the book doo much I was left wishing for more.

This story was much different than I expected. Khepri is going across the river. He normally goes out on the Nile river to fish, and gather for the family. But today is special. Today he crosses the river for the first day of school. At the end the author as a page about writing in Ancient Egypt and what school was like. I also like that she has a short list of further reading.

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I loved the poetry and the storytelling of this book. It was fantastic.