Bargellini, Demetrio, Gianluigi Fungo, and Nanette
McGuinness. Geronimo Stilton: The secret of
the sphinx. New York: Papercutz, 2009. Print.
ISBN: 9781597071598
Audience: Ages 7-11, Grade 2-6
Summary: Geronimo’s cousin Trap, his friend Patty, and
Patty’s niece and nephew drag him into an adventure in Ancient Egypt. The evil
pirate cats have disguised themselves as rats and are plotting to convince the Pharaoh
to make the Sphinx’s head into the form of a cat’s head. They hope to prove to
the world that cats are the superior species. After a lot of exciting adventures, the mice are able to save the
architect Ratty-Atum from being crushed and he rescues the captive pharaoh.
Strengths:
The colorful illustrations and
exciting storyline could draw children into reading further books about Egypt
or more Geronimo Stilton novels. There are panels explaining parts of ancient
Egyptian life as well as other information built into the story itself. The
graphic novel is more straightforward than the novels without the colorful
changes in font that might confuse many younger readers.
Weaknesses: There are time travel paradoxes and
anachronisms that are not really explained which could bother some more
sophisticated readers. A reader who is interested in learning about Egyptian
history would have difficulty knowing which facts are accurate.
Uses: Graphic novels are excellent for
inferring, since the reader must “read” the illustrations in order to follow
the narrative (CCSS ELA: RL.1 Grades 4-7). Art teachers could use the
illustrations to talk about graphic design and line drawings. This book is perfectly suited to put in the
hands of reluctant readers, especially boys, and would be high interest for
many students. For TN 6th grade Social Studies teachers, it would
also be an introduction to Egyptian history- as well as an opportunity to find
the inaccuracies about the time period.
Read-alikes:
·
Lost Treasure
of the Emerald Eye - Geronimo Stilton (first novel in the Stilton series)
·
The Wind in the
Willows: The Wild Wood– Kenneth Grahame (graphic novel version of the classic story of
Mole, Rat, and Toad)
·
A Night at the
Museum (movie) – (movie where the characters are stuck overnight in a museum)
·
The Adventures
of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Caveman from the Future– Dav Pilkey
(graphic novel of two cave boys who travel to the future)
·
The Great
Egyptian Grave Robbery: Flat Stanley – Jeff Brown (Stanley travels by airmail to
an Egyptian pyramid)
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