Mummy Cat

by Marcus Ewert, Lisa Brown (Illustrator)

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780544340824
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/21/2015
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	497,301
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 10.40(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD580L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Marcus Ewert is the author of the award-winning children’s book 10,000 Dresses. He lives in San Francisco and is allergic to cats.

Lisa Brown is a New York Times bestselling illustrator and author. Books she has illustrated include Goldfish Ghost, by Lemony Snicket, and her own The Airport Book. She lives in San Francisco. Visit her at online at americanchickens.com and on Twitter at @lisabrowndraws.

Editorial Reviews

Egyptology takes a Halloween-friendly turn in this winning rhymed tale of a cat once owned by a girl-queen called Hat-shup-set…Brown's tableaus are dynamic and lovely…

The New York Times Book Review - Maria Russo

05/04/2015
Once every century, deep within an Egyptian pyramid, a mummified cat “who’s passed through Death” rises from his coffin and goes to the resting place of his beloved mistress, the “girl-queen, Hat-shup-set,” hoping she will rise from the dead, as well. As the cat wanders from room to room, still wrapped head to tail in white cloth, he passes by painted scenes from the queen’s reign and their joyful days together—before their untimely deaths from a scorpion sting. The paintings are more than decoration: if readers are observant, they will notice that the pictures actually tell a story of jealousy, dastardly murder, and justified comeuppance. Ewert’s (10,000 Dresses) rhymes are fairly conventional (“Their couch was set beside the pool/ The shade from date trees kept them cool”), but his narration has the right tinge of sadness, spookiness, and suspense. It makes a fine red herring for Brown’s (Emily’s Blue Period) detailed, atmospheric pictures—which is where this terrifically original and ultimately happy story actually unfolds. Ages 6–9. Agent: Charlotte Sheedy, Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency. (July)

Publishers Weekly

"Ewert’s rhyming picture book is an unexpected love story that anyone with a pet can appreciate. Kids will enjoy this memorable and touching introduction to mummies." —School Library Journal "Terrifically original." —Publishers Weekly "This stands out among the more straightforward nonfiction picture books about ancient Egypt, and primary-grade children will find much to ponder, explore, and discuss." —Horn Book Magazine * "Elegantly designed for young fans of Ancient Egypt, this sweet ghost story of a pet's love for its owner transcends time." —Kirkus, starred review   —

From the Publisher

05/01/2015
K-Gr 3—Ewert's rhyming picture book is an unexpected love story that anyone with a pet can appreciate. It's set in Egypt inside a pyramid decorated with hieroglyphics and treasures. "A mummy cat, who's passed through death" reminisces about his owner, the girl-queen Hatshepsut, as he searches the rooms looking for her. "He checks to see if she's come back, his loving friend…so that this lonely time can end." Although it's obvious that the memories weigh him down at times, he perks up when he sees pictures of the two of them in painted scenes along the walls. The cat was a loyal companion and a hero to the girl, right to the end of both of their lives. Back matter includes in-depth information about mummies and the ancient queen. The hieroglyphs are defined here as well, and they can be used as an I Spy game, as they appear throughout the book. Brown's ink, gouache, watercolor, and digital collage illustrations are rich with beautiful ancient artifacts and a grouping of curious mice and moths that follow the mummy cat to the tomb of the girl he can never forget. VERDICT Kids will enjoy this memorable and touching introduction to mummies.—Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada

School Library Journal

★ 2015-07-15
"Deep within this maze of stone, / a creature wakes up, all alone."On this evening in Egypt, a cat that has been mummified and placed inside a pyramid awakens "for the first time in a hundred years." Will he find what he is looking for? Ewert has created a compelling story that masterfully melds introductory information about the ancient Egyptian practice of mummification, its royalty, the people's reverence of cats, and a look at hieroglyphics. As the cat explores the tomb, he fondly remembers his owner, Hatshepsut, and all they did together. Brown expertly employs a mix of media to create illustrations in a palette of soft browns with pops of blue, yellow, and orange hues. Paintings on the pyramid's walls depict not only the cat and the queen's relationship, but also the perils of being an Egyptian ruler. The mummy cat wanders, lonely. "This cold, golden coffin—is this all he gets? / Where is the girl he can never forget?" Readers will smile as the page turn reveals the mummy queen beginning to emerge from her sarcophagus. For those who would like to learn more, the backmatter includes succinct yet helpful notes on "Mummies, Cats, Queens, and Hieroglyphs." A seek-and-find feature with sets of hieroglyphs invites further investigation as well. Elegantly designed for young fans of ancient Egypt, this sweet ghost story of a pet's love for its owner transcends time. (Picture book. 5-9)

Kirkus Reviews