Pets Tell Tales: Ancient Egypt – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Egyption life narrated by animals.
Children’s book title: Pets Tell Tales: Ancient Egypt.
Children’s authors: Rik Worth and Jordan Collver.
Genre: Nonfiction Comic Book.
Published by: Wren & Rook.
ISBN: 9781526366627.
Recommended for children aged: 7+ year-olds.
First published: Paperback July 2025.
This children’s book is ideal for: supplementing KS2 ancient civilisation lessons.
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Our review:
Rik Worth and Jordan Collver divert from typical anthropocentric depictions of history in this nonfiction graphic novel with comical animal narratives.
Facts are interwoven into a captivating narrative that feels more ‘story’ than ‘informative’; a seamless flow from one chapter to the next that results in an engaged reader, capable of challenging Egyptian myths and absorbing complex details of pharaonic life.
“Humans write down everything: lists of kings, stories, shopping lists. But sometimes we can’t tell if these events really happened… or were just made up. Luckily, we don’t have to rely on you humans. Animals were there too.”
Readers, child or otherwise, may find themselves surprised by the depth of their connection to the material; material previously more likely to be found (and forgotten) in dry textbooks.
The physical design and artwork are also noteworthy; the unconventional large size, reduced text and traditional black and white imagery on thin, uncoated paper – a nod to traditional newsprint comics – offers a visually appealing and timeless experience. It’s an accessible format that frames facts about sacred dung, gods, mummification and more, in an easy-to-digest way that ultimately encourages curiosity, historical empathy and interesting discussions.
Our verdict:
Telling the story of Ancient Egypt from the perspective of its animals makes the topic immediately engaging and accessible for younger students. This unique approach helps to connect with the subject in a way that a traditional textbook might not and will leave a lasting impression on children and young people – and adults!
Many thanks to Wren & Rook for the review copy.
If you like Pets Tell Tales: Ancient Egypt by Rik Worth and Jordan Collver you might also like: Cigars of the Pharaoh by Herge, See Inside Ancient Egypt by Rob Lloyd Jones and David Hancock, Awesome Egyptians (Newspaper Edition) by Terry Deary, Peter Hepplewhite and Martin Brown, The Ancient Egypt Sleepover by Stephen Davies and The Story of Tutankhamun by Patricia Cleveland-Peck and Isabel Greenberg.
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