Fact: Reading as a leisure activity is the best predictor of comprehension, vocabulary and reading speed. (The Power of Reading, Stephen Krashen, Libraries Unlimited, 1993)
Fiction, nonfiction, diaries, and even blog posts – it doesn't matter what your child reads. What matters is that she or he sees reading as a fun, leisure activity, and that she or he reads on a regular basis during the summer. These books and activities will take your child on a fascinating trip to the Middle East. Check out more books covering similar topics with this book list.
The Royal Diaries: Cleopatra VII, Daughter of the Nile
It is the winter of the year 57 BCE in Alexandria, Egypt. Twelve-year-old Cleopatra is filled with dread for her father, King Ptolemy Auletes, Pharaoh of Egypt. The people of Egypt are angry about the king's mismanagement of the government's money and the unfair taxes he makes them pay. Written in diary form, this book imagines how Cleopatra must have feared for her own safety, and hoped to survive to become queen of Egypt in an unsettled time.
Tombquest Worksheet
Check out this printable to create a virtual Egyptian adventure for your 8- to 13-year-old.
Kane Chronicles Readalikes
If your child loves the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan (author of the Percy Jackson series), look for these other fantasy books about ancient magic and mythology for ages 9-12.
Egypt Trivia Quiz
Discover some surprising facts about Ancient Egypt.
