This year in our homeschool we’ll be studying Ancient History and, of course, one of the big units of the year is the study of Ancient Egypt. I’m so excited! So, I pulled all my Ancient Egypt living books off the shelf, ordered a few new treasures, and immediately knew I wanted to share my list with you! They’re a wonderful mix of historical fiction, non-fiction informational texts, and biographies.
Learning about Ancient Egypt is so fascinating!
Let’s break them down by grade levels. And remember – you want to choose a book a bit above your child’s grade level to use as a read aloud. Another idea? Download an audio book to listen to in the car. Plus, don’t be afraid to let your kids read books that might seem a tad too easy. They’ll get more out of the content if the books are not a struggle.
Disclaimer: Each book featured in the list is hyper-linked to Amazon where I can earn a small commission if you purchase through my link. It’s no additional cost for you, but helps me and my family. I only promote books and products that I’m familiar with and truly believe in. So, please click through and know you are helping out another homeschooling family!
Ancient Egypt Picture Books
Pharoah’s Boat by David Weitzman
Book type: historical picture book with several paragraphs of text on each page
Pages: 40
With poetic language and striking illustrations, Weitzman tells the story of how one of the greatest boats of ancient Egypt came to be built and built again. In the shadow of the Great Pyramid at Giza, the most skilled shipwrights in all of Egypt are building an enormous vessel that will transport Cheops, the mighty pharaoh, across the winding waterway and into a new world. Pharaoh’s boat will be a wonder to behold, and well prepared for the voyage ahead. But no one, not even the Egyptian king himself, could have imagined just where the journey of Pharaoh’s boat would ultimately lead.
We’re Sailing Down the Nile by Laurie Krebs
Book type: Rhyming narrative non-fiction picture book
Pages: 40
Set sail along the mighty Nile River to experience the wonders of Egypt. The lilting, rhyming story text is followed by eleven pages full of educational information about ancient Egypt, gods and goddesses, a helpful map, and much more.
Bill and Pete Go Down the Nile by Tomie dePaola
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
It’s a new school year, as William Everett Crocodile and his trusty friend and toothbrush, Pete, prepare for a class trip down the Nile. They’re ready for the mysterious Sphinx. They’re ready for mummies and pyramids. Their teacher, Ms. Ibis, has even promised them a glimpse of the priceless jewel called “the Sacred Eye of Isis.” But are Bill and Pete ready for the Bad Guy, up to his usual no-good tricks? Come along on this fast-paced and funny adventure with Bill and Pete, and find out.
The Egyptian Cinderella by Shirley Climo
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
This Egyptian spin on the classic Cinderella tale was initially recorded in the first century by a Roman historian and is retold here by folklorist Shirley Climo. Poor Rhodopis! She has nothing—no mother or father, and no friends. She is a slave, from the far-off country of Greece. Only the beautiful rose-red slippers her master gives her can make Rhodopis smile. So when a falcon swoops down and snatches one of the slippers away, Rhodopis is heartbroken. For how is she to know that the slipper will land in the lap of the great Pharaoh himself? And who would ever guess that the Pharaoh has promised to find the slipper’s owner and make her queen of all Egypt?
Tutankhamen’s Gift by Robert Sabuda
Book type: historical picture book
Pages: 31 pages
Small and frail, Tutankhamen was an all but ignored member of the royal family of the great Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep III. Then Amenhotep III died and the unpopular reign of Tutankhamen’s brother ended in mystery. Who now would be pharaoh? Could it be a boy of only ten? Robert Sabuda combines simple text with artwork true to the historical period in which Tutankhamen lived.
>>>Are you combining Bible study with your study about Ancient Egypt? Check out my Bible songs for kids about Joseph, Moses, and the Exodus!
Ancient Egypt Books for Grades 2-4
Magic Treehouse Mummies in the Morning by Mary Pope Osborne
Book type: historical fiction chapter book
Pages: 80
Chapters: 10
Jack and Annie don’t need another mummy. But that’s what they get when the Magic Tree House whisks them back to ancient Egypt. There they meet a long-dead queen who needs their help. Will Jack and Annie be able to solve the puzzle, or will they end up as mummies themselves?
Book type: non-fiction companion book
Magic Tree House Research Guide: Mummies & Pyramids by Mary Pope Osborne
Pages: 128
Chapters: 9
Filled with up-to-date information, photos, illustrations, and fun tidbits from Jack and Annie, the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers are the perfect way for kids to find out more about the topics they discovered in their favorite Magic Tree House adventures. Why did people make mummies? What was the mysterious writing on mummy cases? How did most ancient Egyptians spend their days? How were the pyramids built? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Jack and Annie track the facts.
>>>Check out: How to Do Homeschool Planning
Eyewitness Ancient Egypt (DK Eyewitness)
Book type: non-fiction informational book
Pages: 72
Travel back in time with this picture-led guide and explore the magnificent monuments and fabulous tombs of ancient Egypt. This book takes you through the history of one of the world’s most extraordinary civilizations. Venture inside pyramids and gaze upon the faces of mummies, come face-to-face with pharaohs such as Rameses the Great and Tutankhamun and sail down the Nile to the fabulous cities of Memphis and Thebes. This history book for kids brings the rich and powerful Egyptian kingdoms back to life in all their glory.
Tut, Tut, Time Warp Trio by Jon Scieszka,
Book type: Comedic historical fiction chapter book
Pages: 73
Chapters: 12
The Time Warp Trio is back and up to hieroglyphic high jinks in the land of pyramids and pharaohs! When Joe’s sister, Anna, accidentally opens The Book, Joe, Sam, and Fred suddenly find themselves in ancient Egypt. Soon, the Time Warpers are dodging crocodiles on the Nile, outwitting the evil high priest, and searching for an escape route from the mummy-making chamber. Can their new friend Thutmose III, the boy king, help them?
Discovery Mummies & Tombs by Fiona MacDonald
Book type: illustrated non-fiction book
Pages: 64
Journey into the fascinating and exciting world of life after death. Uncover the dark secrets of the mummies of ancient Egypt. An illustrated guide.
Cleopatra: The Queen of Kings by Fiona MacDonald (DK Discoveries)
Book type: illustrated non-fiction biography
Pages: 48 pages
Witness the life of a powerful Egyptian ruler. Vivid storytelling brings the past to life. Exciting eyewitness accounts make you feel like part of the action. Stunning photographs, annotated illustrations, and exploded views help you piece together the story. A gatefold page opens out to show a panoramic view of the scene.
Secrets of the Mummies by Harriet Griffey (DK Readers Level 4)
Book type: non-fiction beginner book
Pages: 48
Proficient readers will be drawn to this Level 4 Reader, which introduces them to the mysterious world of Egyptian and Incan mummies. As they learn more about ancient burial processes, kids will be exposed to rich vocabulary and challenging sentences, helping them improve their reading skills.
>>> Read: Stop! Do You Know Your Child’s Reading Level?
Who Was King Tut? by Roberta Edwards
Book type: non-fiction historical chapter book
Pages: 112 pages
Chapters: 12
Ever since Howard Carter uncovered King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, the young pharaoh has become a symbol of the wealth and mystery of ancient Egypt. Now, a two-and-a-half-year-long museum exhibit of Tut’s treasures is touring major cities in the U.S., drawing record crowds. This Who Was . . . ? is complete with 100 black-and-white illustrations and explains the life and times of this ancient Egyptian ruler, covering the story of the tomb’s discovery, as well as myths and so-called mummy curses.
Tut’s Mummy Lost…and Found by Judy Donnely (Step into Reading Level 4)
Book type: non-fiction beginner chapter book
Pages: 48
Chapters: 5
Illustrated in full color with black-and-white & full-color photos. “Beginning with the death of Tutankhamen, the book moves forward to archaeologist Howard Carter’s discovery of the tomb. Information about ancient Egyptian life is interspersed in a clear, smooth fashion throughout. A good way to get readers into non-fiction.”–Booklist.
Where Are the Great Pyramids? By Dorothy Hoobler
Book type: historical fiction chapter book
Pages: 112
Chapters: 10
The Great Pyramids of Egypt–all kids over the age of five recognize them instantly. These massive tombs were built thousands of years ago, and still no one knows exactly how the ancient Egyptians did it! In this informative account, Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler tell the story of the powerful pharaohs who commissioned the pyramids at Giza and offer a fascinating look at the culture of the afterlife in ancient Egypt, explaining exactly how mummies were made. Easy to read and scrupulously researched, this explores the mysteries that have attracted countless visitors to the pyramids for centuries.
Planning for next year?
Check out these grade-by-grade book lists of engaging, clean, living books to add to your plans:
- 1st Grade Books List
- 2nd Grade Books List
- 3rd Grade Books List
- 4th Grade Books List
- 5th Grade Books List
- 6th Grade Books List
- 7th-8th Grade Books List
- 100 Must-Read Classics for Kids: The Complete Elementary Reading List
Ancient Egypt Books for Grades 5-6
Casting the Gods Adrift: A Tale of Ancient Egypt by Geraldine McCaughrean
Book type: historical fiction chapter book
Pages: 112
Chapters:
When Akhenaten, Egypt’s new pharaoh, decrees that only one god shall be worshipped from now on, life is thrown into chaos for Tutmose, the young son of a dealer in rare animals meant for the temples of the traditional gods. Tutmose’s happiness at living at the pharoah?s court is darkened when his father, maddened by the pharaoh’s rejection of the gods, plots a deadly revenge. Back matter suggests further reading.
The Cat of Bubastes: A Tale of Ancient Egypt by G.A. Henty
Book type: fiction
Pages: 320
Chapters: 22
Chebron, the young son of an Egyptian high priest, and Amuba, a young slave in the boy’s household, are close friends; but their lives are greatly altered when Chebron accidentally kills a cat, an animal held sacred by the ancient Egyptians. Forced to flee for their safety, the boys and their companions begin a long and dangerous journey. A thrilling adventure story, this is also a tale packed with historical facts.
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God King by Joanne Williamson
Book type: historical fiction chapter book
Pages: 212
Chapters: 12
A never-before published tale by the author of the best-selling Hittite Warrior carries the reader back to Ancient Egypt and biblical Jerusalem. It is 701 B.C—rule of the Kushite dynasty in ancient Egypt. Young Prince Taharka, a very minor royal son, succeeds unexpectedly to the throne of Kush and Egypt—a “divine” rulership. It’s not long, however, before a treacherous plot pushes him into sudden exile and into the hands of Amos, an emissary of King Hezekiah seeking help against the Assyrians. Posing as a medical assistant, Taharka journeys with Amos to Judea where he encounters two kings in conflict. His true identity suddenly uncovered, he must choose with whom he will fight—the mighty Assyrian, Sennacherib, promising alliance, or Hezekiah, the Jew who trusts in Yahweh. A novel inspired by research on the historical King Taharka and his period. 700 BC
Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Book type: historical fiction chapter book
Pages: 279
Chapters: 25
This compelling story of adventure, romance, and intrigue, set in ancient Egypt, was written by the three-time Newbery Honor and Edgar Award winning author Eloise Jarvis McGraw. Mara is a proud and beautiful slave girl who yearns for freedom in ancient Egypt, under the rule of Queen Hatshepsut. Mara is not like other slaves; she can read and write, as well as speak the language of Babylonian. So, to barter for her freedom, she finds herself playing the dangerous role of double spy for two arch enemies—each of whom supports a contender for the throne of Egypt. Against her will, Mara finds herself falling in love with one of her masters, the noble Sheftu, and she starts to believe in his plans of restoring Thutmose III to the throne. But just when Mara is ready to offer Sheftu her help and her heart, her duplicity is discovered, and a battle ensues in which both Mara’s life and the fate of Egypt are at stake.
The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Book type: A Newbery Honor Book, historical fiction chapter book
Pages: 256
Chapters: 12
An exciting ancient Egyptian mystery! Ranofer wants only one thing in the world: to be a master goldsmith like his beloved father was. But how can he when he is all but imprisoned by his evil half brother, Gebu? Ranofer knows the only way he can escape Gebu’s abuse is by changing his destiny. But can a poor boy with no skills survive on the cutthroat streets of ancient Thebes? Then Ranofer finds a priceless golden goblet in Gebu’s room and he knows his luck−and his destiny−are about to change.
Tales of Ancient Egypt by Roger Lancelyn Green (Puffin Classics)
Book type: mythology
Pages: 214
These stories include the great myths – of Amen-Ra, who created all the creatures in the world; of Isis, searching the waters for her dead husband Osiris; of the Bennu Bird and the Book of Thoth. But there are also tales told for pleasure about magic, treasure and adventure – even the first ever Cinderella story.
Heading into Homeschool by Amanda Wilson
Book type: How-to non-fiction
Pages: 170
Is homeschooling right for your family? If you’re ready to jump into homeschooling for the first time, this how-to guide by experienced homeschooling mom of four will provide you with ALL THE KNOW-HOW YOU NEED to get started confidently and stress-free. This easy read will walk you step-by-step through your homeschool preparation.
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