Ancient Egypt and the early Old Testament is the overarching theme of our school year.

I missed laying this foundation in the early years before learning of Charlotte Mason’s philosophy of education, so we’re back tracking a bit to build upon it going forward, Lord willing, as we travel through HIS(story) of HIS world.

Boy of the Pyramids by Ruth Fosdick Jones was an instant hit, and a favorite read on the subject so far. Every chapter ends with cliffhanger, and even the 2.5 year old learned to adopt her siblings’ habit of pleading “More! More!” when I closed the book for each day.

Boy of the Pyramids tells the story through the experience of ten year-old Kaffe, the son of Egyptian nobleman, Socharis, Pharaoh Khufu’s trusted confidant.

Kaffe and his slave girl, Sari, from the Sinai region, kept us on the edge of our seats, as their many adventures gave us a glimpse into what life was like in Ancient Egypt, how the Egyptians viewed death, and how similar we all are inside, no matter when and where we live.

Though this book is a work of historical fiction, it did an excellent job of helping us feel as though we were living, working, eating, smelling, tasting and touching the things that were a normal part of everyday Ancient Egyptian life.

Featuring a bullfight, a near-drowing experience, ancient farming wisdom around the Nile, a tomb robbery, and more, Boy of the Pyramids is a fantastic living book, full of interesting characters, conversation, and suspense!

I’d highly recommend it as a stand alone book for children 12 and under, a family read aloud, or as part of a deeper study of this time period.