The Shipwrecked Sailor: An Egyptian Tale with Hieroglyphs.The Shipwrecked Sailor: An Egyptian Tale with Hieroglyphs by Tamara Bower Anatheum Books for Young Readers, July 2000, $17.00 ISBN 0-689-83046-7, Ages 7 and up This beautiful story is based on a papyrus papyrus (pəpī`rəs), a sedge (Cyperus papyrus), now almost extinct in Egypt but so universally used there in antiquity as to be the hieroglyphic symbol for Lower Egypt and a common motif in art. The roots were used as fuel; the pith was eaten. scroll of hieroglyphs dating back to the 19th century B.C. in Egypt. Bower tells the tale of a brave sea voyage bound for the gold of Nubia Nubia (n  `bēə), ancient state of NE Africa. At the height of its political power Nubia extended, from north to south, from the First Cataract of the Nile (near Aswan, Egypt) to Khartoum, in Sudan. It early came under the influence of the pharaohs, and in the 20th cent. B., in southern Egypt. On the way, a great windstorm causes a shipwreck and a lone sailor is found on the "Island of the Soul." Universal themes and values are represented in the form of ancient symbology. Bower's lush illustrations possess deep, vibrant colors and are depicted in Egyptian style. Key phrases from the tale are eloquently highlighted on page borders with their literal translations from the large, majestically drawn hieroglyphs. The sailor's story is wonderfully enhanced with a map, notes about the story, a special section with clear explanations of the Egyptian symbols used and revealing discussions about the hieroglyphs. It is refreshing to read a Nubian tale and see the brown people of Egypt in their true dark hues. This excellent read is a must for school and public libraries, and a great gift for inquisitive children. Malikah Dada Lumumba is the Library Media Specialist at Franko Magnet Middle School in Mount Vernon, NE. |
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