Pros: big thick sturdy pages, patterns on one side of paper only
Cons: No historical content or explanation of mummies.
The Bottom Line: Make this Mummy was enjoyed but not a favorite. I loved the thick sturdy pages, but didnt love that there was no historical data to back up the mummies.
rngpie's Full Review: Iain Ashman - Make This Egyptian Mummy
I have fallen in love, literally, with Usbourne Books. I have found the company both extremely easy to order from and the books both beautiful, entertaining and educational.
Each time I order something new from Usbourne Books, I am as excited as the kids to get it!!
Make This Egyptian Mummy
I purchase this particular book for my son who is 11 and getting a little tired of the "Search Books", like the The Big Bug Search that I had last purchased.
This book contains 16 pages made of a thick slick heavier weight than regular paper. There are 3 Egyptian Mummies to be made from this book, and each one stacks inside the other, until there is only 1 mummy showing.
The patterns to the mummies are only on one side--so that you can cut with ease, and not be afraid of cutting an important part.
Because the paper is so thick, almost cardstock, it is very easy for little hands, both experience and inexperienced to cut around the outside patterns of the mummies.
There are very clear directions on the inside flap of the book both the front and back flap. And every piece has a matching number for easy assembly.
In total, there are 60 pieces to be cut out, folded and assembled into 3 stacking mummies.
How We Did
I had originally planned this book as an rainy afternoon entertainment fpr my 11 yr old son and 9 yr old daughter. However, my helpers soon tired of cutting. The heavy paper did make it difficult for those kiddie scissors to cut through, and big grown up scissors are just to difficult to manage for small hands.
Even with mom doing all the cutting, things still did not progress as smoothly as I would have hoped.
One thing was, it just did not capture their attention. Unlike most Usbourne Books, there were no descriptions or history behind the mummies, literally this book is just mummies.
I had expected some in depth into Egyptian History, or explanations behind mummies. There was none. (Other than what I provided and we all know, Mom doesnt know anything).
The pieces were a bit hard to fold at first but we soon got the hang of it.
Instead of being an 1 afternoon craft, it turned into about 3 afternoons, because we worked on it just a bit at a time.
Usbourne has other "build it books" but I probably won't invest in them anytime soon since this one was not a favorite event.
If completed straight through, I believe the mummies could have been crafted in a couple of hours.
Details Make This Eqyptian Mummy is published by Usbourne Books.
We have the paperback version, and the pages measure approx 9x13".
I paid $9.95 for this book from http://wonderfulworldofbooks.com plus shipping and taxes. All in all, it came to just under $15.
ISBN# 07945-0255-5
Other books in this series include "Make this Castle" and "Make this Medieval Castle". I believe there is one more also, but cant remember it's title.
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