Marisa Morea

Being a newcomer can be tough, especially at a new school. Here, we explore the difficult emotions that accompany that first day, in a compassionate and supportive way. Without minimising the fear and apprehension a child may feel, pastel shades, simple design and a gentle rhythm in the text provide a comforting exploration of what to expect. Emphasis is placed on the faces and body language of a diverse cast of characters throughout. Each character is expertly illustrated to convey the emotional tone, making the shifts understandable to younger audiences.

Filled with facts on daily life in Ancient Egypt, Chae Strathie’s book is an entertaining and informative introduction to what life was like in the time of the pharaohs. The objective of the book is to humorously demonstrate to child readers the triviality of their modern-day problems, and this is achieved by explaining the hardships endured by children in Ancient Egypt. The reader will come to see that while owning a pet baboon or a lion does sound appealing, life was certainly not all fun and games and crazy wild pets in Ancient Egypt.