Appetizer:
I am quite convinced that every child goes through an Egyptologist phase. Personally, mine was much stronger than the horse phase, in part because I felt that there were much better books about ancient Egypt than there were about horses (sorry Black Beauty, I just don’t like books about animals dying). Egypt holds the charm of the Nile, various animal headed gods, and the mystery of pyramids, so the empire is one that lends itself well to children’s books. Though it never charmed me, there are endless facts about the grossness of embalming and potentially curses associated with mummies. No books about Egypt, however, top the mastery of Eloise Jarvis McGraw in her books Mara, Daughter of the Nile and The Golden Goblet. Based solely on the amount of time I spent reading each of these books as a child, I must devote a post to each book separately. The Golden Goblet is much more suited to the Junior audience than Mara, so it’s surely the best place to start.
The Main Course: Boy-Hero
Ok, ok, I know I have a thing about orphans. Ranofer, though, isn’t just a charming orphan. He becomes a hero far before our good friend Harry Potter when he uses his time as apprentice to the goldsmith to stop a sinister plot impacting the royal family. Set under the reign of Pharaoh Thutmose, The Golden Goblet lays bare both the mysticism of ancient Egypt as well as the harsh realities of the impoverished life of an average Egyptian citizen. Working in the Goldsmith’s forge, Ranofer spends his days surrounded by the valuable substance while going hungry each night. Often beaten by his older brother, Ranofer has every excuse to crawl into himself as he faces the moral test of shedding light on the shady business that occurs around him. Rather than giving into his baser nature, Ranofer steps forward, faces his fear, and brings about justice. Though the backdrop may be entirely foreign to the child cracking open the book, Ranofer’s experience colors the mundane moral choices that children make each day. When faced with the next conundrum of childhood, how much easier can it be to face the trial if you remember Ranofer’s courage under the hot Egyptian sun? Then, that choice isn’t just the blandness of “doing the right thing.” It’s aspiring to the behavior of your heroes. Even if it feels uncomfortable or false at first, by employing the imagination, a young reader starts to see that seeking justice—whether in a small way or a large one—is nothing short of exciting and heroic. This book isn’t preachy. It’s brilliant, it’s engaging, and it never gets old.
Pairs Well With:
The Nostalgic: McGraw isn’t an author that fades with age. Her target audience is all those interested in a good story, rather than aiming directly as young children. Again and again, as I fall into this book, I find the prose incredibly engaging. It’s the type of book you’ll start to add to a rotation of re-reading once you’ve encountered it. Aside from a good long reading-binge, this book pairs well with taking a deep dive into the author. McGraw didn’t just write for children and her Greensleeves also serves as an interesting, engaging read. If you’d like to stay in Egypt for a while, do a quick google search for conspiracies related to the ancient culture and you’ll find yourself down a very bizarre and fascinating rabbit hole.
The Benefactor: An Egyptian Feast! Ok, you don’t have to eat roast rat or any of the more—uh—exotic staples of Egyptian cuisine, but it’s always fun to try the food of a culture you’re reading about. Maybe try making your own pita bread or tasting ripe figs. Another great project is building your own sugar cube pyramid. If your reader can resist eating the sugar cubes, the project gives dimension to the massive creations erected by this “primitive” culture. Really, there are no end of Egypt projects, but here a few more quick ones: 1) Try writing on papyrus or a similar rough paper scroll 2) Create your own hieroglyphics 3) Try your hand at an Egyptian wall mural 4) Melt down some old gold and try the goldsmithing skills you learned from this book (TOTALLY kidding on this one. Please, please do not do this at home. Or anywhere. Unless, of course, you are a trained goldsmith).
The Feasting Imagination 