As a homeschooling mom I'm always looking for additional resources to complement our current study! Recently my 7 year old and I spent time learning about ancient Egypt and he was fascinated, wanting to learn more even after we finished the unit. We both really enjoyed this audio book so I might just need to purchase the hard copy so we can enjoy the illustrations as well!

This was such a fun and interesting book. The stories are short yet informative. Great addition to any library or personal collection for an ancient Egypt fan. I personally would have loved a book like this when I was a kid.

Traversing millennia, Hugo Cook's Tales of Ancient Egypt: Myths & Adventures from the Land of the Pyramids provides a comprehensive, accessible look at Egyptian history and mythology for all ages. More of an introduction than an overview, this quick, clear, musically-enhanced audiobook succeeds as a fascinating entry into Egyptology for kids and adults alike.

This was a fun book with lots of good information. My kids enjoyed listening to it as well. The only thing I could have done without was the background music. I don’t think it added anything and was distracting at times. Over all good book.

My almost 6yo mythology fan is loving this audiobook of Egyptian Myths. This is a great audiobook for families waiting for new episodes of Greeking Out!

I really enjoyed this one. I liked the format of short little stories you could read one or two at time and come back to a new story. I even learned a few things!

Very well narrated by Melinda Sewak.


I will be adding this one to my library collection!


4 stars

I received this audiobook from the publisher Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners and NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the digital copy of this audiobook; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I am anxious to add this children’s book to my physical library–it sounds like a lot of work and effort went in to making this a physically appealing book that kids would want to pick up. Like many children, I became fascinated with the ancient Egyptians when learning about them in school. I was sure that when I grew up, I’d be an archeologist. As an adult, I went to Chicago to see the touring King Tut exhibit and devoured the Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody Mysteries. So, to find a modern children’s book that offers the kids of today the same excitement I felt as a kid learning about this civilization was a treat. There are tales that are based on fact, and then there are some of the most popular and lesser-known myths set in Egypt.

Narrated by Melinda Sewak–Excellent narration! I can see how her voice would appeal to middle graders no problem. She made the myths and stories very interesting and engaging. The addition of a musical background in sections made this a delight to listen to.

This book was easy to understand and very informative. The addition of music in the audiobook version was nice also to set the tone. Older children and adults alike can learn much about Egyption myths and legands from this book.

I have been fascinated by Egypt since I was a child. I remember doing book reports and research projects centered on Egypt and its people. This book just ignited all of that passion again.

Here you will learn about rulers and gods, foods and medicines, astronomy and fossils.

There were so many interesting stories and facts that I hadn't heard before in addition to information I was already familiar with. I was rather excited that my favorite goddess, Meretseger, was even mentioned!

I think this will be a fun learning experience for children and adults alike.

Tales of Ancient Egypt is a great introduction to Ancient Egyptian history. I loved how engaging the stories were. The author did a great job of making the history feel relevant and not dry. I listened to an advance copy of the audiobook, and thought the narrator did a fantastic job in making it exciting and fun.

Thanks to NetGalley, Hugo Cook, Melinda Sewak, and Macmillan Audio for the chance to read and review! My opinions are my own.

The audiobook of Tales of Ancient Egypt is narrated by Melinda Sewak, whose rich and clear voice brings an engaging depth to the stories. Sewak excels at differentiating between the numerous characters, using distinct tones and inflections to breathe life into gods, pharaohs, and mythical figures. Her pacing is thoughtfully managed, balancing dramatic and reflective moments to keep listeners captivated throughout.
Hugo D. Cook has crafted Tales of Ancient Egypt into a compelling and accessible resource for both children and adults. His talent for presenting Egyptian history and mythology in a digestible format makes these ancient tales understandable and enjoyable. Cook’s storytelling simplifies complex concepts without losing depth, making the book an excellent introduction to Egyptian lore for younger audiences while still providing rich content for adult listeners.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this audiobook.

Tales of Ancient Egypt was an intriguing children’s book created by an Egyptologist. My children love learning new things, and my daughter loves learning about Ancient Egypt. They loved listening to this book, with each chapter sharing something new. The audiobook was a great listen, with a fantastic narrator and fun background sounds. If you have a child fascinated with Egypt, this audiobook is for you!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced audiobook copy!

Audio 3h 22m
Absolutely fascinating and fun. I was immediately hooked by the narrator's seeming enthusiasm for her topic. You felt like she was into what she was narrating and that is a real plus. The author has a long-time fascination with Egypt, too, so a double win. The tone is very conversational and you almost feel like you're sitting around a study while the narrator simply shares story after story with you. As luck would have it, I recently reviewed another book focused on Egyptian mythology, so I was thoroughly enjoying having my memory tweaked. I enjoyed the music and occasional "sound effect" playing behind the narration, too. Not intrusive and added to the atmosphere. Kudos to narrator Melinda Sewak.

As for the contents, I gave up on taking notes early on simply to enjoy the stories. I did note down that it started from well, the beginning, sharing how Egyptians explained how everything began and the various gods role in that aspect. The stories included non-gods, too, hence the title of Tales of Ancient Egypt, not of Egyptian mythology. I won't even try to list them all but will note that topics like hieroglyphics and the Rosetta Stone are discussed, as well as the astonishing accuracy of the Great Pyramid as a directional tool. You'll even get to visit the inside of a tomb as well as imagine battles involving the likes of not just elephants but, seriously, ostriches. And....so much more.

While designed around the idea of having young readers/listeners, my hunch, based on my own glee as I listened, is that adults may be equally drawn to this book. Social Studies teachers, this one would make a great add to your bookshelves, both at home and school. It'd also make a great gift. I had the audio version and could envision sharing one or two of these stories at a time toward the end of the class, so check this one out for purchase NOW. Thanks #MacmillanAudio - #MacmillanYoungReaders for giving me an early peek at this fascinating book.

Tales of Ancient Egypt explored the vast history of Egypt in a fun and memorable way perfect for children and adults. The little one I listened to this book with was transfixed and I as an adult learned things I hadn’t in school or through reading. I did, however, feel that Cleopatra and the Ptolemies were glanced over. Given this is meant for children I can see why.

I loved the myths interwoven with historical fact and found many of them fascinating. I learned a great deal I hadn’t known about Egyptian mythology, given I am Egyptian obsessed. I learned that Hathor had a dark side, and I enjoyed the day in the life retellings, especially the paid mourner. I had no idea that could be such a lucrative career.

The narrator did a fantastic job. I found Melinda’s voice to be soothing and expressive. Perfect for keeping children engaged. I could see this being played in a classroom. My only issue was the backtrack. Overall, the backtrack was a wonderful addition. However, in chapter 8 the sound was a bit louder than the other tracks. I found it distracting. I ended up focusing more on the music in this chapter than on the narrator.

I would give Tales of Ancient Egypt 5 stars. Overall, I enjoyed this work and would highly recommend it for children and adults interested in Egypt as well as educators.

4 out of 5 Stars

Tales of Ancient Egypt is a fun way to learn more about ancient Egypt especially for and with the little ones.

I love ancient Egypt -- when I got to visit London, I had to check out all the mummies in the British Museum. The stories are just so different and interesting. This is such a great introduction for kids, and the narration makes it even better, because there is so much enthusiasm. The audiobook also has music and other sound effects. The stories themselves are great, including real stories about famous people, gods, and even pirates. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook.

4 Stars ✨

Middle Grade/Elementary Mythology

Audio Version 🎧
Narrator 5/5

Ancient Egypt has always been a fascinating topic for kids and adults to dive into. The myths and legends opens portals to the imagination of an unknown time. From the Pyramids,civilization, gods and goddesses- there’s so much lore surrounding it. This is a great primer for those wanting to learn more about the mystery that surrounds Egypt. While I don’t follow their mythology or practice it, I have always loved finding and learning more about other cultures, traditions and myths. This was a fun book for adults and kids told in an exciting way through audio to keep the reader engaged. I do think having a hard copy on hand would have been nice , as I would have loved to see the illustrations laid out while reading. Regardless, I would definitely recommend it for curious readers.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced audio copy of Tales of Ancient Egypt, in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fascinating collection of information about ancient Egypt, written and narrated in a very engaging way for kids.
I am sure this would appeal to upper elementary and middle school aged children who are interested in the topic (and really, what kids aren't fascinated by ancient Egypt?). I wish this had been available when my kids were young! The information provided is accurate from what I know of the topic and it is presented in a clear and kid-friendly way. I would definitely recommend this audiobook!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this audio ARC!

Interesting short book of stories/myths from ancient Egypt. The audiobook was well narrated. Some of the stories and facts were quite fun and educational.

This was an awesome introduction to ancient Egypt that I believe is great for both kids and adults. The book is divided into multiple short sections with each introducing the reader/listener to a different topic that covers everything from real history to mythology. I also very much appreciated that the book doesn’t solely focus on the pharaohs and the gods and gives the tales of ordinary Egyptians a chance to shine. This turned ancient Egypt from an abstract concept to a real place where people actually lived which helped me connect with the information the book was trying to teach me.

The audiobook was great and I loved Melinda Sewak’s narration.

Tales of Ancient Egypt is a great book for kids who want to learn about ancient Egypt in a fun and unique way but even adults will find so many things to enjoy and appreciate.