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Mummy Cat
Deep within this maze of stone,
a creature wakes up, all alone . . .
Mummy Cat prowls his pyramid home, longing for his beloved owner. As he roams the tomb, lavish murals above his head display scenes of the cat with his young Egyptian queen, creating a story-within-a-story about the events of centuries past. Hidden hieroglyphs deepen the tale and are explained in an informative author’s note.
Marcus Ewert and Lisa Brown’s smart, beautiful book is a marvel of sophisticated simplicity, infinitely engaging to examine in detail, and complete with a sweetly surprising plot twist sure to delight young cat-lovers and budding Egyptologists alike.
a creature wakes up, all alone . . .
Mummy Cat prowls his pyramid home, longing for his beloved owner. As he roams the tomb, lavish murals above his head display scenes of the cat with his young Egyptian queen, creating a story-within-a-story about the events of centuries past. Hidden hieroglyphs deepen the tale and are explained in an informative author’s note.
Marcus Ewert and Lisa Brown’s smart, beautiful book is a marvel of sophisticated simplicity, infinitely engaging to examine in detail, and complete with a sweetly surprising plot twist sure to delight young cat-lovers and budding Egyptologists alike.
48 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 21, 2015
10 people are currently reading
350 people want to read
About the author
Marcus Ewert
6 books17 followersMarcus Ewert's first book 10,000 Dresses, illustrated by Rex Ray, was published by Seven Stories Press in September 2008. He is the co-creator of the animated series "Piki & Poko: Adventures in StarLand" and is currently writing "Mummy Cat", another children's book, coming out from Clarion Book in July 2015. He lives in San Francisco.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews
October 5, 2016
This is a book that I have some mixed feelings about, but it's beautiful and fun and addresses friendship, loss, isolation and death in a way that is very gentle. That is a lot for one book to do. It takes place in a pyramid, a theme that is perhaps overdone and over simplified in kids books, but still rich with history and mythology. It addresses privilege/birthright, the violence that can be encountered in royal families, and sibling rivalry in ways that are a bit more oblique. My just-turned-six year old neighbor is not picking up on those last elements at this point and that is fine. She loves the evocative language and rhymes. "The winds hiss over the the desert sand./The moon shines down on empty land..." She adores the romantic friendship. To quote her, "I'm really into this book." She is now making her own hieroglyphic dictionary of sorts.
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May 5, 2015Get ready to fall in love with Mummy Cat! This picture book collaboration between Marcus Ewert and Lisa Brown is a delight to read. My family and I poured over the illustrations and it also makes such a wonderful read aloud!
July 7, 2015
Gorgeous illustrations, inventive rhymes, and a relationship between girl and cat that endures for millenia -- what more could you ask for? How about a hidden murder mystery told in hieroglyphs and a primer on ancient Egypt? This is a picture book that nourishes the heart, the ear, the eye, and the mind with separate and delectable treats.
August 18, 2015
A loyal and loving feline searches for his devoted owner, a young Egyptian queen in Marcus Ewert and Lisa Brown’s clever picture book MUMMY CAT. The catch? He’s just woken from a hundred year’s sleep after having been mummified and entombed in a beautifully decorated pyramid.
For young readers, the tale works on the simplest level as the pet seeks to reunite with his owner. The determined, inquisitive cat is appealing and adorable despite his elaborate linen wrappings. The tomb is bright and colorful, filled with interesting artifacts, a swirling moth, and cute little mice. Even a few spiders and cobwebs are so delightfully depicted that timid listeners will have nothing to fear.
As he wanders though the pyramid, the cat gazes fondly at painted murals showing his past life with the queen, Hapshupset. Indeed, the murals tell a more complex story within the story about a jealous, scheming sibling that complicated the young queen’s life. This aspect of the book will hold enormous appeal for older readers. Looking beyond the captivating mural images, we slowly decode the devious actions of Hapshupset’s sister and her evil lion-monkey.
An author’s note explains mummies, cats, queens and hieroglyphics for readers who want to know more, and seventeen hieroglyphs hidden within the illustrations are spelled out in more detail.
Ewert’s rhyming text is short yet descriptive, moving the story forward at a steady pace. Deep within this maze of stone, a creature wakes up, all alone . . .Spanning the full scope of this once-a-century event, Ewert leads us from the sun setting over hot desert sands into the tomb, through the night, and closing as the sun is beginning to rise. The spare but rich narrative leaves plenty of opportunity for Brown’s engaging, creative illustrations to flourish and add poignant, tender touches.
Just as Egyptian priests tucked magical amulets and symbolic treasures into a mummy’s linens, Ewert and Brown have slipped countless sweet delights into the pages of MUMMY CAT. Turn the pages slowly and savor them one by one. I’m certain you will also be en-wrap-tured by its many charms!
For young readers, the tale works on the simplest level as the pet seeks to reunite with his owner. The determined, inquisitive cat is appealing and adorable despite his elaborate linen wrappings. The tomb is bright and colorful, filled with interesting artifacts, a swirling moth, and cute little mice. Even a few spiders and cobwebs are so delightfully depicted that timid listeners will have nothing to fear.
As he wanders though the pyramid, the cat gazes fondly at painted murals showing his past life with the queen, Hapshupset. Indeed, the murals tell a more complex story within the story about a jealous, scheming sibling that complicated the young queen’s life. This aspect of the book will hold enormous appeal for older readers. Looking beyond the captivating mural images, we slowly decode the devious actions of Hapshupset’s sister and her evil lion-monkey.
An author’s note explains mummies, cats, queens and hieroglyphics for readers who want to know more, and seventeen hieroglyphs hidden within the illustrations are spelled out in more detail.
Ewert’s rhyming text is short yet descriptive, moving the story forward at a steady pace. Deep within this maze of stone, a creature wakes up, all alone . . .Spanning the full scope of this once-a-century event, Ewert leads us from the sun setting over hot desert sands into the tomb, through the night, and closing as the sun is beginning to rise. The spare but rich narrative leaves plenty of opportunity for Brown’s engaging, creative illustrations to flourish and add poignant, tender touches.
Just as Egyptian priests tucked magical amulets and symbolic treasures into a mummy’s linens, Ewert and Brown have slipped countless sweet delights into the pages of MUMMY CAT. Turn the pages slowly and savor them one by one. I’m certain you will also be en-wrap-tured by its many charms!
August 28, 2015
MY HEART.
January 12, 2016
How can you not a) fall in love with a Mummy Cat and b) not award this five stars? Gorgeous little book reminding us that love can be eternal. Watch out Pandora, you're coming with me into the afterlife ;)
July 8, 2018
Picked out for CAT in the title and illustrations by Lisa Brown, whose work I usually like. Surprising poignant and not at all like Skippyjon Jones. There is clearly research, and good endnotes.
Library copy
Library copy
April 12, 2022
My granddaughter asked me to read this book to her first grade class. While I knew I would probably have to answer questions about death and after life that might raise some eyebrows, the story of the young queen and her cat who were mummified and placed in a pyramid-tomb was engaging on several levels. The art is fantastic. It tells so much more of the story, especially when the students looked for the messages given to the reader in hieroglyphs! The students were mesmerized.
July 24, 2015
Super cute story! As a librarian, and a fan of ancient Egyptian lore, I was really excited for this book. It's a clever story about a cat and her girl, but one that explains the ancient Egyptian belief of what happens in the afterlife. I loved the illustrations and the incorporation of real hieroglyphs into the book.
December 13, 2015
This brings Queen Hatshepsut to a new generation of young readers (complete with pronunciation!)
Cat lovers will also appreciate the life-long connection to felines.
Illustrations suggest an evil female murders the queen.
Backmatter includes details about mummification, cats, the queen, and hieroglyphs.
Cat lovers will also appreciate the life-long connection to felines.
Illustrations suggest an evil female murders the queen.
Backmatter includes details about mummification, cats, the queen, and hieroglyphs.
November 20, 2015
The FEELS...
January 14, 2016
10 stars!!!!
April 3, 2024
What a horrible, sad story....
January 19, 2018
With a short, rhyming narrative and illustrations created using "ink, gouache, and watercolor on paper with digital collage," this is a story about a love between a woman and her cat that endures for millennia.
The story depicts many aspects of ancient Egyptian life and culture and features a female pharaoh whose name is Hatshupset (which apparently rhymes more easily than Hatshepsut, the actual name of the historical figure upon which the story is based).
Strangely enough, I didn't catch the dramatic tale of jealousy, hatred, and assassination woven throughout the illustrations the first time I read the book. I was pretty tired, but I think I was just focused on the rhymes and the interactions between the pharaoh and her cat.
I also didn't realize that the hieroglyphs used were authentic and help to tell the story of greed, betrayal, and murder until I read the author's notes at the end of the book. The notes include additional information about Egyptian mummies, the cats they revered, Hatshepsut, and a glossary of hieroglyphs used.
What this tells me is that younger children may also overlook some of the grittier parts of the story, focusing instead on the loving relationship between Hatshupset and her cat as well as the fun, lyrical rhymes that offer vivid, often onomatopoeic, descriptions of the cat's journey to find his queen.
Overall, it's an engaging story and the book is one that can be read several times, gleaning more information about the details of the saga with the clues given within the illustrations. I certainly needed another reading to capture the nuances of the drama. It helps that I was more awake the second time!
The story depicts many aspects of ancient Egyptian life and culture and features a female pharaoh whose name is Hatshupset (which apparently rhymes more easily than Hatshepsut, the actual name of the historical figure upon which the story is based).
Strangely enough, I didn't catch the dramatic tale of jealousy, hatred, and assassination woven throughout the illustrations the first time I read the book. I was pretty tired, but I think I was just focused on the rhymes and the interactions between the pharaoh and her cat.
I also didn't realize that the hieroglyphs used were authentic and help to tell the story of greed, betrayal, and murder until I read the author's notes at the end of the book. The notes include additional information about Egyptian mummies, the cats they revered, Hatshepsut, and a glossary of hieroglyphs used.
What this tells me is that younger children may also overlook some of the grittier parts of the story, focusing instead on the loving relationship between Hatshupset and her cat as well as the fun, lyrical rhymes that offer vivid, often onomatopoeic, descriptions of the cat's journey to find his queen.
Overall, it's an engaging story and the book is one that can be read several times, gleaning more information about the details of the saga with the clues given within the illustrations. I certainly needed another reading to capture the nuances of the drama. It helps that I was more awake the second time!
August 12, 2015
Everyone knows that ancient cultures are definitely an interest of mine, and ancient Egypt is definitely one of the cultures I am most drawn to. With this picture books, readers are drawn into a tomb to meet Mummy Cat.
The cat takes the reader through the tomb looking at artifacts and wall art that brings back memories of her life with her owner, the great queen Pharaoh Hatshepsut. They are fond memories that allow the reader some insight into what life was like in that ancient culture.
The book ends with some informative pages about cats, hieroglyphs, Hatshepsut, and (of course) mummies. It is clear the author and the illustrator spent a great deal of time trying to get the look and information within this little story correct. In fact, a number of words are presented with correct hieroglyphs throughout. These are also highlighted in the final section.
I am not sure a lot of kids will love this, but many little ones seem intrigued by pets (cats) and ancient Egypt.
The cat takes the reader through the tomb looking at artifacts and wall art that brings back memories of her life with her owner, the great queen Pharaoh Hatshepsut. They are fond memories that allow the reader some insight into what life was like in that ancient culture.
The book ends with some informative pages about cats, hieroglyphs, Hatshepsut, and (of course) mummies. It is clear the author and the illustrator spent a great deal of time trying to get the look and information within this little story correct. In fact, a number of words are presented with correct hieroglyphs throughout. These are also highlighted in the final section.
I am not sure a lot of kids will love this, but many little ones seem intrigued by pets (cats) and ancient Egypt.
January 14, 2016
Mummy Cat wakes up every hundred years looking for his mistress, the girl queen, Hat-shup-set. He wanders the old, dark, hall of the tomb. He looks upon the murals painted for the girl queen and sees that he is in every one. He remembers the details of each event. He recalls how the scorpion stung both he and her, striking them both dead. At the end of the hall, he goes through a door into another room. Here he investigates the artifacts of his past. He sees the toys and lovely things that had belonged to his girl queen. And then he approaches her coffin, painted and inlaid with gold. He wonders if she will ever return. He lays down to wait for her as he has done for three thousand years. But this night is different, this night he is rejoined with her once more.
http://julianaleewriter.com/books-ali...
http://julianaleewriter.com/books-ali...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2015
In a market filled with all sorts of friendship stories (realistic, imaginary creatures, animal stand-ins), this story of a cat and her beloved queen truly stand out. This is a tender friendship story set against the backdrop of Ancient Egypt. Readers will get a taste of Egyptian life, rituals, afterlife, mummification, and art. This dynamic duo has made learning about history and cultures engaging and heartfelt. Perceptive readers will be rewarded with extra story information when they decode the hieroglyphs. The extensive back matter can be used as a good starting point for learning more about Ancient Egypt.
January 21, 2016
The cutest mummy cat ever rises from the dead to reminisce about days gone by and await for his mummified queen to also return from the dead. Easy read aloud rhyming text adds to the cheerful atmosphere. While my 30 month old was entertained, by the illustrations and rhymes, this is a book about death, and could spark some uncomfortable discussion in older readers if you're not prepared.
Back matter goes into a little more detail about relevant Egyptian history and mummification.
Death, burial, and preservation.
Back matter goes into a little more detail about relevant Egyptian history and mummification.
Death, burial, and preservation.
August 19, 2015
What a strange, creepily lovely book. This book really brings out the Wednesday Addams in me. It's quite a beautiful book, chock full of Egyptian details, but probably not for younger children or those who are faint at heart. Anyone into mummies and ancient cultures, though, will eat this up with a hieroglyphic spoon.
August 26, 2015
I was going to lean towards a 3.75 stars, but as you may or may not know if you have read my other reviews, I am a sucker for authors notes. I also love Non-Fiction Narrative. Now, this is a little mythology with truth, but still interesting enough to keep kids interested.
I really enjoyed this!
I really enjoyed this!
January 2, 2016
Sweet and sad story of a mummy cat missing his girl (an Egyptian princess).
May 14, 2018
Sweet yet morbid. I loved it.
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April 2, 2022didnt expect to be crying over a children’s book at 10:30am in my place of work but here we are
April 18, 2018
Beautiful story about a cat who was the pet of the queen of Egypt long ago. He wakes up and looks for her inside their tomb. He is a mummy cat and is lonely for his friend. The murals tell the story of his life. A bittersweet tale.
March 4, 2019
I love this book it is my favorite book out of all the books I read i am in love with this book😍 and it is sad too😥
March 26, 2017
Given that I'm researching portrayals of mummy in popular culture, this book popped when I was doing a Amazon search. Since I was putting in an order at Amazon, I thought I would go ahead and pick up this book too.
I expected a sweet adorable story about a mummy cat - well, as sweet and adorable a mummified cat is - and I was not disappointed. If anything, I was surprised by how quickly the author humanizes this story as the little wrapped cat waxes about waiting for his Queen. While walking around inside the pyramid, the wall paintings of his life with his Queen are given meaning when the cat narrates what they mean. While oriented to children, the story does touch on death, which is respectfully handled.
The illustrations are gorgeous and myriad of Egyptian motifs are beautifully rendered and colorful. There are hieroglyphics punctuating the story, which readers find out by reading the endnotes have been researched for accuracy. Other endnotes include a short biography of Queen Hatshepsut and the importance of the cat in Ancient Egyptian culture.
I expected a sweet adorable story about a mummy cat - well, as sweet and adorable a mummified cat is - and I was not disappointed. If anything, I was surprised by how quickly the author humanizes this story as the little wrapped cat waxes about waiting for his Queen. While walking around inside the pyramid, the wall paintings of his life with his Queen are given meaning when the cat narrates what they mean. While oriented to children, the story does touch on death, which is respectfully handled.
The illustrations are gorgeous and myriad of Egyptian motifs are beautifully rendered and colorful. There are hieroglyphics punctuating the story, which readers find out by reading the endnotes have been researched for accuracy. Other endnotes include a short biography of Queen Hatshepsut and the importance of the cat in Ancient Egyptian culture.
April 7, 2021
This started with a nice idea - telling a story about Egypt through the eyes of a mummy. But the mummy cat COMES TO LIFE, locked in the tomb, alone and bereft (the book emphasizes this). The story is of how the Egyptian girl, buried with the cat, died. So we see her happy, living her life, and then murdered.
Seriously, who thought this book was good for ages 6-9?! (The publisher, apparently, who labeled it that way.)
My daughter, age 6, read this book and struggled to focus on school for the next 15 minutes because she was so worried about the cat, locked up all alone.
And even worse - what she got from the book was that it's possible some people will come back from the dead. (This is what the cat is expected the girl to do, and although the end does not have words and may be the cat's imagination, the last page has a picture of the mummy girl sitting up, holding the cat.)
My daughter's grandmother died, and after this book she asked if mummified people can come back to life. Ugh. Of course, I set her straight on this, but she told me she was hoping the author was "right" and people can come back.
It is tricky because this book is fiction, but it's about a culture so it's sort of factual. A hard book for a child to parse in terms of whether it's fiction or not.
I recommend that older children read this book.
Seriously, who thought this book was good for ages 6-9?! (The publisher, apparently, who labeled it that way.)
My daughter, age 6, read this book and struggled to focus on school for the next 15 minutes because she was so worried about the cat, locked up all alone.
And even worse - what she got from the book was that it's possible some people will come back from the dead. (This is what the cat is expected the girl to do, and although the end does not have words and may be the cat's imagination, the last page has a picture of the mummy girl sitting up, holding the cat.)
My daughter's grandmother died, and after this book she asked if mummified people can come back to life. Ugh. Of course, I set her straight on this, but she told me she was hoping the author was "right" and people can come back.
It is tricky because this book is fiction, but it's about a culture so it's sort of factual. A hard book for a child to parse in terms of whether it's fiction or not.
I recommend that older children read this book.
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September 14, 2015Fifteen years ago on the twenty-first day of August a sweet girl puppy was born; the runt in a litter of Chocolate Labrador Retrievers. Knowing she would need to make up for her size in spirit, I named her Xena, the Warrior Princess. Anyone who meets her agrees the name fits her perfectly. Her zest for life is contagious.
As a youngster she was so small she needed three meals a day. For the first six months of her life with me, she came to the elementary school library, safely tucked away in my office. She was frequently seen on my lap during story times. Over the years when I worked evenings, weekends and summers at school, she was a constant companion. We have rarely been apart.
This form of devotion, a love that's completely unconditional, is a rare gift we humans receive from our animal friends. People from all walks of life will readily concur with their own stories about these daily moments. One of the more notable examples of this faithfulness can be found in one of this year's newer titles, Mummy Cat (Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, July 21, 2015) written by Marcus Ewert with illustrations by Lisa Brown.
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
As a youngster she was so small she needed three meals a day. For the first six months of her life with me, she came to the elementary school library, safely tucked away in my office. She was frequently seen on my lap during story times. Over the years when I worked evenings, weekends and summers at school, she was a constant companion. We have rarely been apart.
This form of devotion, a love that's completely unconditional, is a rare gift we humans receive from our animal friends. People from all walks of life will readily concur with their own stories about these daily moments. One of the more notable examples of this faithfulness can be found in one of this year's newer titles, Mummy Cat (Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, July 21, 2015) written by Marcus Ewert with illustrations by Lisa Brown.
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
March 23, 2016
One night, possibly Halloween, every hundred years, Mummy Cat wakes from his death sleep in the tomb of the young Queen Hat-Shup-Set. He leaves the confines of his miniature sarcophagus hoping his mistress will awake as well so they can enjoy the pleasures they once shared. Trailing his linen wraps, Mummy Cat wanders through the tomb and sees the many artifacts and painted wall scenes of his life with the young queen. Sharp eyes will see that the tableau reveals not only their pleasant times but also the devious plot that killed the young queen and her faithful pet. On this night after he reaches the queen’s burial chamber, Mummy Cat’s greatest wish is finally realized. The limited rhyming narrative is subtle and secondary to the earthy palette of the evocative ink, gouache and watercolor illustrations. Back matter includes information about Egyptian afterlife, Hat-Shup-Set and hieroglyphs paired with a seek-and-find of the hieroglyphs featured in the text and their meaning. Readers will enjoy not only an enchanting pet story but also a peek into life at the time of the pharaohs. The title is a worthwhile addition to any library.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews