An Egyptian Adventure

This book was amazing! As a homeschool teacher I'm always looking for ways to get my students interested in history and I really think this would work! From the interactive elements (how to build a sundial, how to make Egyptian jewelry, etc.) To the puzzles, to the storyline, this was engaging from the very first page. I would recommend this book to any child aged 8 to 12. The preview of The Roman Adventure also looks amazing. I can't say enough good things about this. 5 out of 5 stars.

So honestly, I couldn't get this book to download correctly to my e-reader....it downloaded, and I was able to see the pictures and then able to see the text on a different page....but they wouldn't format correctly to produce the comic book. What I was able to see looked both interesting and informative, and I would probably give it a higher rating if it were able to be read correctly. As it stands, I had to really work hard to be able to tell which words went where on the page, and I would never put my students in that situation.

UPDATED TO ADD: The kids are loving these new books from Jolly Fish Press about ancient history! The have a graphic story, mazes and games, foreign language info, arts and crafts, ancient gods, math games, and more.....all couched in the topic of history. They devoured them, and are impatiently awaiting the Viking one. If you've got a history kid, check these out!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnTliyol52f/?taken-by=gypsyroadschool

*I was provided with an ARC of this book through Netgalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a very quick and easy read that had just the right amount of information to educate, but not overwhelm. It was a visual masterpiece and I think that it conjured a mesmerising depiction of Ancient Egyptian society. It made me feel very envious that I wasn't alive during that time period, as everything just seemed so magical and intentional, which I guess it was, given the amazing information about all of the reasons they did something, from their make up, to how they buried their dead. There wasn't much of a fictional story here as the characters mainly just moved around the different areas in Egypt and were then giving information at each place.

What I loved the most about this book was the illustrations, they were absolutely stunning and brought to life everything that I thought an Ancient Egyptian lifestyle would look like. There was such attention to detail, it was remarkable! The images were wonderful in aiding the information given, as they would offer children a visual to attach to what they've learnt. My favourite scene had to be of the tomb and of the procession into the afterlife, as they are some of the most well known associations with the Egyptians, and the illustrator definitely didn't disappoint. The next best aspect of this novel was the amount of interactive activities. There were so many bits in the book that showed you how to make your own versions of what the Egyptians used or ate, it was incredible! This in particular is why I would highly recommend it, if the vivid images and beautifully summarised facts aren't enough to interest children, then these activities certainly are!

The book starts with an introduction to the characters, a short timeline of Egyptian history, as well as a little map.

➽ Luna, likes history, adventures, and story-telling
➽ Nani: likes science, math, and nature
➽ Newton: likes making things, eating, reading, and cooking
➽ Hero: Luna's cat

These four make up the Histronauts, and they are taking a trip to a museum about ancient Egypt. When they get there, they are transported into ancient Egypt where they can learn more about it firsthand. They learn how the ancient Egyptians have made paper from papyrus for several millenia, and a neat little activity is included at the bottom of the page to show how you can make your own!

And so on it goes: they get to see firsthand how hard farmers have to work to harvest food, learn about burial rites and the afterlife, the Egyptian calendar, and so many other activities that make up daily life in ancient Egypt. The graphic novel is interspersed with fun do-it-yourself activities, games, puzzles, and more.

The pictures were beautiful and detailed and included diversity in the characters. The book ends with a short quiz, and I loved how educational it was while still being a fun read. I would definitely recommend this to anyone with kids. It's a great, fun way to learn. I even learned so much that I didn't know and had fun while doing it.

I was so impressed with this book! My son is currently studying ancient Egypt so I was curious about this book for him. I had tons of fun taking a trip back in time in this graphic novel but, it was so much more than just a novel! This book has directions for making papyrus, a sundial, and an Egyptian necklace. It also includes the Hieroglyphic symbols for the alphabet with a message to decode. There are recipes for Egyptian Flatbread and tiger nut sweets and so many more fun things. I wouldn’t call this a graphic novel, I would say it’s more of an activity book with a graphic story to go with it!
Thank you to Jolly Fish Press and NetGalley for this advanced copy. My opinions are my own.
This book will be featured on my blog on Wednesday, November 28 2018.
www.colecampfireblog.com
LanaLCole@yahoo.com

Very cool premise, kids travel back in time (instead of touring the museum, bad kiddies) to explore ancient Egypt. Excellent attention to detail, great facts, fun games and projects. I allowed my son to read with me and wanted to do every single activity (and we did, loads of fun). I think this and the rest of the series would make a lovely addition for our kids, perhaps we could host an activity night based on the books! I can’t wait to order!

This is my first time read a graphic novel from this series, The Histronauts. It is a historical fiction comic book about the adventures of middle-grade kids named Luna, Nani, and Newton with their furry companion, Hero, Luna's cat. This book is jampacked of facts and fun activities that will attract readers. Some of the DIY or "Make Your Own" activities in this particular volume is on how to create a papyrus, a sundial, and an Egyptian necklace. There are recipes included also on how to make an Egyptian flatbread and tiger nut sweets.

Several musical instruments used during that time were also tackled in this book. The list of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses is the best part for me because I was able to read some of them from some young adult fiction books, and middle-graders would definitely enjoy reading brief facts about them. Another notable portion of the book is the about how the mummification was done by the Egyptians. I never knew that it is a long, fascinating, and complex one because of how it takes more than a month to fully completed the whole process.

I learned a lot from reading this specific installment from The Histronauts series and I will definitely check out the other previously published Roman Adventure. This is a great way for middle-graders to learn about history while having fun reading and doing the activities in the book.

What better way to pass a cold and rainy day than in a museum? Luna, Nani, Newton, and their cat, Hero, decide to visit the Ancient Egypt exhibit at the museum. Durkin and Cooke bring Ancient Egypt to life through great illustrations, hands-on activities, and different learning opportunities. Perfect for any classroom or home! I can't wait to read the next adventure of the Histronauts.

Cartoonish in makeup, engaging in plot, and thoroughly entertaining. This is a likeable text and one I would gladly add to my classroom or library bookshelf. Readers old and young would enjoy this book.

I'm always looking for children's nonfiction graphic novels and this is one of the most innovative I've seen yet! While it's not long, it certainly packs a lot of information in and I love the inclusion of little puzzles for the reader to solve as well as quiz questions in the back of the book for reading comprehension! I have now preordered this and the next volume in the series.

THE HISTRIONAUTS: AN EGYPTIAN ADVENTURE
BY FRANCES DURKIN
REVIEW


As a kid I loved everything Ancient Egypt. I was obsessed with mummies and hieroglyphs and it was my life’s goal to become an archaeologist. One of my favourite things in fifth grade was learning more about this civilization not only in History class but also English because we were assigned an adventure novel from the Tiger Team series set in Egypt which came complete with a kit containing a DIY origami pyramid and night goggles, among other things.

An Egyptian Adventure took me right back to those wonderful moments in my childhood where I had discovered my passion for Ancient Egypt! The Histrionauts are a group of three friends (Luna, Nani & Newton) each with their own eccentric personality and their lovable, grumpy cat (Hero). They visit a museum exhibit and end up time travelling to Ancient Egypt where they meet a priestess who guides them through different elements of what life was like in those times.

The book is largely informational but accompanied by quirky dialogue and vibrant, detailed illustrations. Various sections include the use of papyrus for writing, a short timeline of Egyptian politics, building of the pyramids and the shift of burial sites to The Valley of the Kings as well as Egyptian mythology, everyday life and mummification. After every few pages, engaging challenges and puzzles can be found such as a maze and picture search (to name a few).

It’s a wonderful book to immerse school going children in a new and key aspect of world history in a way that is quintessentially modern and exciting and is bound to have not only their full attention but have an inspiring effect!



Rating: 4.5/5

I loved this book! It was so educational but had a neat flow of events and really cool information. There were multiple relevant craft instructions and various activities that I know will keep students engaged with learning about history. I will be purchasing this series for my library.

Thank you, NetGalley for the preview of this graphic novel.

I requested An Egyptian Adventure after reading 'A Roman Adventure' from the same series. This book was equally delightful as the other one. A perfect book to introduce the Ancient Egyptian culture to a young audience.

Many of my students love Historical Fiction (some without realizing it!) and flock to series like I Survived and the Who Was/What Was books. I think the Histronauts will be a great addition to my library! The storyline moves quickly but still provides factual evidence, and the graphics and illustrations really brought the story to life! I think my elementary school aged students will be big fans of "An Egyptian Adventure" and will be asking for more books in the series! Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!