The Pharaoh vs. the Felines

October 1, 2024

K-Gr 2-Pharaoh Amasis II of Egypt was in a pickle; he knew he would have to accept a marriage proposal to his daughter from Cambyses II of Persia, but was reluctant to let her leave Egypt. So what was his solution? Send a stand-in for his daughter and hope that the Persian ruler didn't notice. He noticed. Once the deception inevitably unraveled, Cambyses II, eager to reclaim his honor, devised a plan to use one of Egypt's most revered animals, the cat, against them. With clever humor, featuring an abundance of cat puns, this telling of the ancient Battle of Pelusium could be a fit for budding history enthusiasts. Using a conversational tone and large doses of humor, the narrative provides readers with important context to set the scene for this almost unbelievable skirmish. The book's build-up, however, overshadows the actual battle, covered briefly in the last two pages, making for an abrupt ending and resulting in loose ends. Illustrations are neatly rendered in ink and digital color, enhancing the text's accessibility. However, a map showing the development of Egypt includes an inebriated-looking man saying, "And beer," to a list of Egyptian contributions. This seems like an unnecessary addition to an otherwise delightful take on an obscure moment in history. VERDICT Entertaining and funny, this title is incomplete as nonfiction but makes for a good story.-Louie Lauer

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2024
Grades 1-3 The study of ancient Egypt is a mainstay of early education, and this fun title is a worthy addition, even if shelves are already groaning with titles on the topic, since this covers a lesser-known story and offers help with explaining primary and secondary sources. The tale is that of Cambyses II, ruler of Persia, who wanted to marry Pharaoh Amasis II's daughter. Amasis was opposed, but refusal could cause a war between countries that were already in conflict, so he tricked the suitor by sending a faux princess. Then comes the really fun part--Cambyses attacked Egypt in retaliation, enlisting an unexpected infantry that he knew Egyptians wouldn't hurt: cats! In addition to learning the extent to which ancient Egyptians adored cats, readers will also pick up many other details about Egypt from the facts playfully intermixed with cat-related humor and irreverent asides, not to mention the colorful illustrations of daily life. Back matter tackles the question "how do we even know about things that happened so long ago?" and addresses how carefully we must approach old stories.

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