The Pharaoh vs. the Felines (Head-to-Head History)
by J F Fox (Author) Anna Kwan (Illustrator)
Two ancient empires battle for the upper paw in this fascinating true tale from hiss-tory.
In the 6th century BCE, Egypt and Persia had been squabbling for years over control of the Fertile Crescent. A trick involving an impostor princess was the straw that broke the camel's back: Persia's king decided to invade Egypt. Only, how could Persia beat the mighty Egyptian army? The answer was right in their laps. Would this turn out to be the purr-fect idea they thought it was? Or would it end in cat-astrophe?
J. F. Fox tells the strange and intriguing story of how the Persians used cats to help them win the Battle of Pelusium. Her playful text together with Anna Kwan's dynamic illustrations offer plenty of humor to complement the historical details. Filled with silly cat puns throughout, this third title from the Head-to-Head History series provides an easy-to-read and entertaining way for young people to learn about ancient civilizations. The text and art have been reviewed by an expert for historical accuracy. Notes at the back of the book promote inquiry-based learning by explaining how historians determine what actually happened and ways to separate fact from fiction. A glossary and bibliography are also included.
Locate at a Library Near You WorldCat is the world's largest library catalog, helping you find library materials online.
Find books about:
More books in the series - See All
School Library Journal
K-Gr 2--Pharaoh Amasis II of Egypt was in a pickle; he knew he would have to accept a marriage proposal to his daughter from Cambyses II of Persia, but was reluctant to let her leave Egypt. So what was his solution? Send a stand-in for his daughter and hope that the Persian ruler didn't notice. He noticed. Once the deception inevitably unraveled, Cambyses II, eager to reclaim his honor, devised a plan to use one of Egypt's most revered animals, the cat, against them. With clever humor, featuring an abundance of cat puns, this telling of the ancient Battle of Pelusium could be a fit for budding history enthusiasts. Using a conversational tone and large doses of humor, the narrative provides readers with important context to set the scene for this almost unbelievable skirmish. The book's build-up, however, overshadows the actual battle, covered briefly in the last two pages, making for an abrupt ending and resulting in loose ends. Illustrations are neatly rendered in ink and digital color, enhancing the text's accessibility. However, a map showing the development of Egypt includes an inebriated-looking man saying, "And beer," to a list of Egyptian contributions. This seems like an unnecessary addition to an otherwise delightful take on an obscure moment in history. VERDICT Entertaining and funny, this title is incomplete as nonfiction but makes for a good story.--Louie Lauer
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
J. F. (Jenny) Fox has worked as a children's book editor and freelance writer for two decades, and has adapted and ghostwritten more than seventy books for children. Jenny lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and two sons. She is the author of Friday Night Wrestlefest.
Micah Player is the picture book author-illustrator of Chloe, Instead and the Lately Lily series, and the creator of the bestselling Around the World Puzzle and its follow-up, Around the World Matching Game. Born in Alaska, Micah now lives in Utah with his wife, Stephanie, and their two kids.
JNF028000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Humor | General
JNF025020 - Juvenile Nonfiction | History | Ancient
