Ancient Africa (Modern Rhymes about Ancient Times)
Grade 2-5-Informative and interesting looks at ancient  civilizations, related in rhyme and accompanied by colorful,  stylized illustrations. From the poem entitled "Mummies" in  Ancient Egypt, children are told that when a pharaoh died, "they  used a secret way/To keep his body from decay./They checked him  out from head to toes/And pulled his brain out through his  nose." They also learn that ancient Egyptian doctors treated an  ill child by feeding him a skinned mouse. Elementary students  thrive on facts of this kind, and these books are filled with  them. Explicatory notes and pronunciations are included below  each poem. For example, the selection about the African !Kung  San tribe explains that when a word is spelled with an  exclamation point in front of it, it is spoken with a "click."  In addition to the obvious use of these books in studies of  ancient times, they could be used effectively as models for  nonfiction poetry. Each book lists four appropriate Web sites  with activities and additional information. Good choices for  supplementing studies of ancient times.Lynn Dye, Keheley  Elementary School, Marietta, GACopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.