EGYPT

Populating his huge scenes with enough tiny figures to fill several ancient cities, Biesty takes a lad and his merchant father down the Nile during the reign of Ramses II, pausing for tours of Amun-Ra’s temple at Karnak, the Valley of Kings and other prominent spots, culminating in a royal audience at the great palace at Piramesse in the Nile delta. Each exploded riverine view, rendered in minuscule detail, is surrounded by captions and general comments that not only identify rooms, plants, buildings, artifacts and activities, but also provide glimpses of daily life, cultural and social practices and religious beliefs. Not the most systematic way to learn about ancient Egypt at its height, but a compelling journey for visual learners and armchair travelers. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)