When I was #Homeschooling Charlie and even Suzzane we loved studying different Continents, States, Cities and historical attractions. One of Charlie’s favorite places to study was Egypt. There is something fascinating about Ancient Egypt. I would like to share a new children’s book with you Discover: Ancient Egypt (Ready Activated: A Readyland Alexa Interactive Book): Books You Can Talk to with Amazon Alexa and Echo by Readyland (Insiders).

I love these types of lesson plans because they brought my family closer together. I liked the pyramids, David liked the pharaohs, and Charlie as you can imagine liked the mummies, the hieroglyphics were fun to try and figure out as well, along with the stories of a civilization that existed thousands of years ago which captured my families imagination in a way that makes history feel like an adventure.

Ancient Egypt gives children so many things to be curious about. Why were the pyramids built? What was life like for people living thousands of years ago? What did the pharaohs do? How were mummies made? What are hieroglyphics? Which my family will be making our own hieroglyphics to keep the learning going after we finish the book.

A book like this gives children a place to begin exploring those questions and that is what I liked about the book. The illustrations and information make the subject approachable, while the interactive features give families another way to continue learning beyond the printed page.

As we share our review with you I wanted to let you know this book is different from any children’s books I’ve bought in the past. It is a Ready Activated Book. If you’ve never used a Ready Activated book before, there is something important to know before you get started.

The book includes QR codes that help you access the Ready Activated experience. You’ll use your phone or tablet to scan the QR code and follow the instructions to get started. And here’s something I didn’t realize at first:

You don’t necessarily need to own an Alexa device. There is a free Alexa app that can be used on a compatible phone or tablet. That is worth knowing because not every family has an Alexa or Echo device in their home. If you already have Alexa, you can use your device, but if you don’t, the free app gives you another way to participate in the interactive experience.

Once everything is set up, Alexa becomes part of the reading experience. Instead of simply reading the printed information, children can interact with the content and explore more about what they are learning while the app reads to them.

If you’re giving this book to a child, I recommend taking a few minutes to set up the Ready Activated portion before sitting down for your first reading session. That way, you’re not halfway through the book trying to figure out what the QR code does or wondering how Alexa fits into the experience.

Once you understand the process, it becomes much easier. And I think that’s one of the most useful things a parent, grandparent, or teacher can know before introducing a child to an interactive book like this. Making this a true #TeachingMoment.

Five Tips for Using Your Ready Activated Book

1. Look for the QR codes.– The QR codes are an important part of getting started with the interactive features.

2. Have your phone or tablet ready.– You’ll use it to scan the QR code and follow the setup instructions.

3. Don’t worry if you don’t own an Alexa device.– The free Alexa app may allow you to use the Ready Activated experience from a compatible phone or tablet.

4. Set everything up before your child starts reading.– A few minutes of preparation can make the reading experience much smoother. In my home anything that keeps drama at bay has my attention. How about you?

5. Explore together.– If your child asks a question about pyramids, mummies, pharaohs, or hieroglyphics, stop and explore that question together. The goal isn’t simply to finish the book. It’s to encourage curiosity. Which is why this book is not only perfect for #Homeschooling but our 10 minute reading challenge giving your children a ticket.

For families who #homeschool, this could make a fun addition to a history lesson about Ancient Egypt. Instead of simply reading a chapter and answering questions, children can explore the information, look at the illustrations, interact with Alexa, and follow their curiosity.

But you don’t have to be homeschooling to enjoy it. This would also make a nice book for a child who is fascinated by history, archaeology, ancient civilizations, or simply loves asking questions about how people lived long ago. Which is why you will find Santa and I packing this book when were loading the Sleigh on Christmas Eve and you will find it inside our Christmas Gift Guide/ Wish List.

One of my favorite things about children’s nonfiction is when it makes a child ask another question. A child learns about a pyramid and wants to know how it was built. They learn about a pharaoh and want to know what it was like to be one. They see hieroglyphics and want to know what the symbols mean. That curiosity is where learning really begins.

Discover Ancient Egypt gives young readers an opportunity to explore a fascinating civilization while combining the traditional experience of a book with technology that can make the subject more interactive.

To go along with our review, I’m also creating a free Discover Ancient Egypt Ready Activated Tips Printable for families. The printable gives families the five simple setup and reading tips above and includes space for children to record some of the things they discover while exploring Ancient Egypt.

It can be used alongside the book as a simple activity sheet, homeschool addition, or just something fun to keep with the book. Because sometimes the best part of reading a nonfiction book isn’t remembering every fact. It’s finding one thing that makes a child say: “Wait… I want to know more about that!” And Ancient Egypt gives them plenty of opportunities to do exactly that.

About the book:

Get ready to discover King Tut and beyond with this interactive, illustrated guide for kids 8-12.

What did ancient Egyptian music sound like? What were the names of the most famous rulers—and how to do you pronounce them? Travel back to the time of the pharaohs to find out. Get ready for an interactive reading experience like no other, where books come alive in a whole new way. Talk to the book to play games, quiz yourself, and learn the latest archaeology facts. From bird’s-eye views of the pyramids to up-close looks at the pharaohs’ intricate jewelry, you’ll see—and hear—ancient Egypt as you’ve never encountered it before.

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Grateful, Thankful, Blessed.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates