Mummies & Their Mysteries

Those with a taste for the morbid (the cover photo is a close-up of a boy's mummified face) will here find everything they always wanted to know about mummies but were afraid to ask. As Wilcox explains, cadavers--human and animal--from all over the world were embalmed, often as part of some religious practice, or were mummified inadvertently as part of a greater natural process; the study of these mummies yields invaluable information. The author covers a wide range of topics, from the origin of the word ``mummy'' to ``How Bogs Make Mummies.'' She describes mummies in ancient Egypt as well as those found in the American Southwest, the Arctic and Western Europe. The narrative is punctuated with color photographs with intriguing captions as well as sidebars containing detailed information on such topics as ``How to Make an Egyptian Mummy.'' Kids fascinated by mortal oddities (a la Ripley's) will love this well-researched and nicely designed book. Ages 9-12. (June)