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The Histronauts
An Egyptian Adventure
When the Histronauts travel back in time to ancient Egypt, they'll need your help to uncover the secrets of the past. Join them on their journey as they explore dazzling tombs, decipher hieroglyphics, unwrap the art of mummification, and learn how the gods ruled over the dead in the afterlife.
With an exciting mix of graphic novel, facts, and activity, The Histronauts series is a perfect way to bring history to life.
With an exciting mix of graphic novel, facts, and activity, The Histronauts series is a perfect way to bring history to life.
88 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2019
4 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 30, 2021
I don’t know if Ms. Durkin and Ms. Cooke colluded to create a tiny tome that would call to all; from the self-dubbed non-reader to the basic bookworm, but that’s exactly what this groovy graphic-novel does.
Filled with fascinating facts, in the same way a teeny car contains a multitude of clowns, this was a particularly pleasing read for me. An at-a-glance timeline from 5,000 BC through 30 BC took up only a tiny portion of a page, but was packed with information. I had no idea that Egypt was divided and reunited so many times! Nor could I have fathomed the complicated process of turning papyrus into paper.
The “novel” is in the narration. The Histronauts, a quirky crew, complete with a cat, needed an indoor activity on a rainy day. Their museum visit morphs into an adventurous Egyptian exploration. As the kids take in the sights and ask amazing questions, I am completely captivated, learning about ancient Egyptians and their way of life. And if all of that isn’t enough, there are even activities through-out. From making jewelry to flatbread or simply solving puzzles, these were engaging additions.
I believe that reluctant readers will enjoy this because of the tantalizing trivia and the graphic-novel-format seems to be more appealing for shorter attention spans. I think avid readers will be reeling from the intriguing information. I was totally into it. And truly, who knew there more than 2,000 ancient Egyptian gods? Or that music was such an imperative part of their lives?
The Histronauts also embark on a Roman adventure and I am already looking forward to joining them.
This review was written by jv poore for Buried Under Books, with huge thanks to North Star Editions for the Review Copy.
Filled with fascinating facts, in the same way a teeny car contains a multitude of clowns, this was a particularly pleasing read for me. An at-a-glance timeline from 5,000 BC through 30 BC took up only a tiny portion of a page, but was packed with information. I had no idea that Egypt was divided and reunited so many times! Nor could I have fathomed the complicated process of turning papyrus into paper.
The “novel” is in the narration. The Histronauts, a quirky crew, complete with a cat, needed an indoor activity on a rainy day. Their museum visit morphs into an adventurous Egyptian exploration. As the kids take in the sights and ask amazing questions, I am completely captivated, learning about ancient Egyptians and their way of life. And if all of that isn’t enough, there are even activities through-out. From making jewelry to flatbread or simply solving puzzles, these were engaging additions.
I believe that reluctant readers will enjoy this because of the tantalizing trivia and the graphic-novel-format seems to be more appealing for shorter attention spans. I think avid readers will be reeling from the intriguing information. I was totally into it. And truly, who knew there more than 2,000 ancient Egyptian gods? Or that music was such an imperative part of their lives?
The Histronauts also embark on a Roman adventure and I am already looking forward to joining them.
This review was written by jv poore for Buried Under Books, with huge thanks to North Star Editions for the Review Copy.
April 4, 2019
5/5
Pronto, reseña
Pronto, reseña
November 27, 2018
I was so impressed with this book! My son is currently studying ancient Egypt so I was curious about this book for him. I had tons of fun taking a trip back in time in this graphic novel but, it was so much more than just a novel! This book has directions for making papyrus, a sundial, and an Egyptian necklace. It also includes the Hieroglyphic symbols for the alphabet with a message to decode. There are recipes for Egyptian Flatbread and tiger nut sweets and so many more fun things. I wouldn’t call this a graphic novel, I would say it’s more of an activity book with a graphic story to go with it!
Thank you to Jolly Fish Press and NetGalley for this advanced copy. My opinions are my own.
This book will be featured on my blog on Tuesday, November 27, 2018.
www.colecampfireblog.com
LanaLCole@yahoo.com
Thank you to Jolly Fish Press and NetGalley for this advanced copy. My opinions are my own.
This book will be featured on my blog on Tuesday, November 27, 2018.
www.colecampfireblog.com
LanaLCole@yahoo.com
September 25, 2018
The book starts with an introduction to the characters, a short timeline of Egyptian history, as well as a little map.
➽ Luna, likes history, adventures, and story-telling
➽ Nani: likes science, math, and nature
➽ Newton: likes making things, eating, reading, and cooking
➽ Hero: Luna's cat
These four make up the Histronauts, and they are taking a trip to a museum about ancient Egypt. When they get there, they are transported into ancient Egypt where they can learn more about it firsthand. They learn how the ancient Egyptians have made paper from papyrus for several millenia, and a neat little activity is included at the bottom of the page to show how you can make your own!
And so on it goes: they get to see firsthand how hard farmers have to work to harvest food, learn about burial rites and the afterlife, the Egyptian calendar, and so many other activities that make up daily life in ancient Egypt. The graphic novel is interspersed with fun do-it-yourself activities, games, puzzles, and more.
The pictures were beautiful and detailed and included diversity in the characters. The book ends with a short quiz, and I loved how educational it was while still being a fun read. I would definitely recommend this to anyone with kids. It's a great, fun way to learn. I even learned so much that I didn't know and had fun while doing it.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
➽ Luna, likes history, adventures, and story-telling
➽ Nani: likes science, math, and nature
➽ Newton: likes making things, eating, reading, and cooking
➽ Hero: Luna's cat
These four make up the Histronauts, and they are taking a trip to a museum about ancient Egypt. When they get there, they are transported into ancient Egypt where they can learn more about it firsthand. They learn how the ancient Egyptians have made paper from papyrus for several millenia, and a neat little activity is included at the bottom of the page to show how you can make your own!
And so on it goes: they get to see firsthand how hard farmers have to work to harvest food, learn about burial rites and the afterlife, the Egyptian calendar, and so many other activities that make up daily life in ancient Egypt. The graphic novel is interspersed with fun do-it-yourself activities, games, puzzles, and more.
The pictures were beautiful and detailed and included diversity in the characters. The book ends with a short quiz, and I loved how educational it was while still being a fun read. I would definitely recommend this to anyone with kids. It's a great, fun way to learn. I even learned so much that I didn't know and had fun while doing it.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
October 1, 2018
*I was provided with an ARC of this book through Netgalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was a very quick and easy read that had just the right amount of information to educate, but not overwhelm. It was a visual masterpiece and I think that it conjured a mesmerising depiction of Ancient Egyptian society. It made me feel very envious that I wasn't alive during that time period, as everything just seemed so magical and intentional, which I guess it was, given the amazing information about all of the reasons they did something, from their make up, to how they buried their dead. There wasn't much of a fictional story here as the characters mainly just moved around the different areas in Egypt and were then giving information at each place.
What I loved the most about this book was the illustrations, they were absolutely stunning and brought to life everything that I thought an Ancient Egyptian lifestyle would look like. There was such attention to detail, it was remarkable! The images were wonderful in aiding the information given, as they would offer children a visual to attach to what they've learnt. My favourite scene had to be of the tomb and of the procession into the afterlife, as they are some of the most well known associations with the Egyptians, and the illustrator definitely didn't disappoint. The next best aspect of this novel was the amount of interactive activities. There were so many bits in the book that showed you how to make your own versions of what the Egyptians used or ate, it was incredible! This in particular is why I would highly recommend it, if the vivid images and beautifully summarised facts aren't enough to interest children, then these activities certainly are!
This was a very quick and easy read that had just the right amount of information to educate, but not overwhelm. It was a visual masterpiece and I think that it conjured a mesmerising depiction of Ancient Egyptian society. It made me feel very envious that I wasn't alive during that time period, as everything just seemed so magical and intentional, which I guess it was, given the amazing information about all of the reasons they did something, from their make up, to how they buried their dead. There wasn't much of a fictional story here as the characters mainly just moved around the different areas in Egypt and were then giving information at each place.
What I loved the most about this book was the illustrations, they were absolutely stunning and brought to life everything that I thought an Ancient Egyptian lifestyle would look like. There was such attention to detail, it was remarkable! The images were wonderful in aiding the information given, as they would offer children a visual to attach to what they've learnt. My favourite scene had to be of the tomb and of the procession into the afterlife, as they are some of the most well known associations with the Egyptians, and the illustrator definitely didn't disappoint. The next best aspect of this novel was the amount of interactive activities. There were so many bits in the book that showed you how to make your own versions of what the Egyptians used or ate, it was incredible! This in particular is why I would highly recommend it, if the vivid images and beautifully summarised facts aren't enough to interest children, then these activities certainly are!
December 18, 2018
Do your kids love history?? Then YOU HAVE TO GET THIS BOOK!! It was amazing! My son and I read through this together, as he is studying Ancient Egpyt this year, and the information was fabulous! Oh my goodness! Get a little bit of everything - and learn more about what life was like for Egyptians thousands of years ago! The pictures were amazing, and the facts laid out in an easy to understand way. As a history teacher, this book is well thought out and perfect for using with kids to get them interested in history. As a parent, it was a great way to help my son get more information on a subject he was already studying. He loved the hieroglyphics and being able to practice writing his name in another language.
We are looking forward to making the recipes that were in the book, and trying some ancient treats!
We are looking forward to making the recipes that were in the book, and trying some ancient treats!
February 11, 2019
The first book about a specific era I actually liked and couldn’t put down. I love history but I don’t like to read books and historical events they are boring and just go on and on. They are very unstimulating. This however turned history into fun. There were facts, activities and games and even some recipes to tenancy what the Egyptians ate. The story however was short and there were more historical facts than story but still very fun. Great book for kids they can use their imagination while learning about ancient Egypt and have making paper the used and cooking food they ate. The only thing that did confuse me was I don’t know how the children ended up in ancient Egypt. Was it their imagination while walking around or did they get transported back in time??
February 22, 2019
Love the images and format of this book. The activities interdispursed keep the readr engaged.
April 2, 2019
Fun, interactive elements and history mixed in with great illustrations.
October 24, 2019
Great art, cool facts, and neat premise. A fun book overall.
February 20, 2026
Este livro é espectacular! Muito informativo, colorido e divertido. Aposto que as crianças (diz ser recomendado a partir dos 8 anos) vão adorar :)
August 22, 2022
Not as storyformed as I'd expected. The narrative of time-travelling children is frequently interrupted by fact callouts and activity "crafts" of the cardboard + paint variety... we skipped all of them. The children's bios at the front led me to expect some clear relevance of their strengths to the story's unfolding, but that wasn't noticeable... without the artwork, I think they'd be interchangeable?
I expected to give this two stars, but our son chose unprompted to finish the book (without me!) on day two, and when I asked his opinion said, "It was interesting!" I've never heard him use those words together before, and the tone was genuine, so...
Kindle version works okay, but not great, on iPad. A few of the spreads are designed to cross the spine, which doesn't port to the iPad reader. Not a showstopper, but I imaginethe effect lands better in hard copy.
I expected to give this two stars, but our son chose unprompted to finish the book (without me!) on day two, and when I asked his opinion said, "It was interesting!" I've never heard him use those words together before, and the tone was genuine, so...
Kindle version works okay, but not great, on iPad. A few of the spreads are designed to cross the spine, which doesn't port to the iPad reader. Not a showstopper, but I imaginethe effect lands better in hard copy.
October 11, 2018
I loved this book! It was so educational but had a neat flow of events and really cool information. There were multiple relevant craft instructions and various activities that I know will keep students engaged with learning about history. I will be purchasing this series for my library.
October 15, 2018
THE HISTRIONAUTS: AN EGYPTIAN ADVENTURE
BY FRANCES DURKIN
REVIEW
As a kid I loved everything Ancient Egypt. I was obsessed with mummies and hieroglyphs and it was my life’s goal to become an archaeologist. One of my favourite things in fifth grade was learning more about this civilization not only in History class but also English because we were assigned an adventure novel from the Tiger Team series set in Egypt which came complete with a kit containing a DIY origami pyramid and night goggles, among other things.
An Egyptian Adventure took me right back to those wonderful moments in my childhood where I had discovered my passion for Ancient Egypt! The Histrionauts are a group of three friends (Luna, Nani & Newton) each with their own eccentric personality and their lovable, grumpy cat (Hero). They visit a museum exhibit and end up time travelling to Ancient Egypt where they meet a priestess who guides them through different elements of what life was like in those times.
The book is largely informational but accompanied by quirky dialogue and vibrant, detailed illustrations. Various sections include the use of papyrus for writing, a short timeline of Egyptian politics, building of the pyramids and the shift of burial sites to The Valley of the Kings as well as Egyptian mythology, everyday life and mummification. After every few pages, engaging challenges and puzzles can be found such as a maze and picture search (to name a few).
It’s a wonderful book to immerse school going children in a new and key aspect of world history in a way that is quintessentially modern and exciting and is bound to have not only their full attention but have an inspiring effect!
Rating: 4.5/5
BY FRANCES DURKIN
REVIEW
As a kid I loved everything Ancient Egypt. I was obsessed with mummies and hieroglyphs and it was my life’s goal to become an archaeologist. One of my favourite things in fifth grade was learning more about this civilization not only in History class but also English because we were assigned an adventure novel from the Tiger Team series set in Egypt which came complete with a kit containing a DIY origami pyramid and night goggles, among other things.
An Egyptian Adventure took me right back to those wonderful moments in my childhood where I had discovered my passion for Ancient Egypt! The Histrionauts are a group of three friends (Luna, Nani & Newton) each with their own eccentric personality and their lovable, grumpy cat (Hero). They visit a museum exhibit and end up time travelling to Ancient Egypt where they meet a priestess who guides them through different elements of what life was like in those times.
The book is largely informational but accompanied by quirky dialogue and vibrant, detailed illustrations. Various sections include the use of papyrus for writing, a short timeline of Egyptian politics, building of the pyramids and the shift of burial sites to The Valley of the Kings as well as Egyptian mythology, everyday life and mummification. After every few pages, engaging challenges and puzzles can be found such as a maze and picture search (to name a few).
It’s a wonderful book to immerse school going children in a new and key aspect of world history in a way that is quintessentially modern and exciting and is bound to have not only their full attention but have an inspiring effect!
Rating: 4.5/5
November 1, 2018
Cartoonish in makeup, engaging in plot, and thoroughly entertaining. This is a likeable text and one I would gladly add to my classroom or library bookshelf. Readers old and young would enjoy this book.
November 13, 2018
What better way to pass a cold and rainy day than in a museum? Luna, Nani, Newton, and their cat, Hero, decide to visit the Ancient Egypt exhibit at the museum. Durkin and Cooke bring Ancient Egypt to life through great illustrations, hands-on activities, and different learning opportunities. Perfect for any classroom or home! I can't wait to read the next adventure of the Histronauts.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews