Ms. Frizzle, science teacher extraordinaire (in the tremendously popular Magic School Bus series by Joanna Cole and illustrator Bruce Degen), parachutes into social studies in the first of the new series from the same creative pair. On the first day of school vacation, the inimitable, redheaded Ms. Frizzle joins a tour group bound for Egypt. When the plane trip gets too monotonous, Ms. Frizzle invites the group to jump ship with her. Somehow, tour guide Herb ends up in contemporary Cairo, while everyone else lands in ancient Egypt! Here's where Ms. Frizzle's teaching skills come in handy. By the end of the vacation, members of the tour group--and readers--have learned more about mummies, pyramids, Re the sun god, and ancient Egyptian's teeth than they ever imagined.

With their familiar blend of information sharing and humor, Cole and Degen present what might in any other format be an overwhelming amount of information in a lively, entertaining, easy-to-absorb style. Full-color cartoon-style text and illustrations allow readers to explore Egypt even as Ms. Frizzle and her inadvertent students do the same. Witty asides take the shape of travel diaries, postcards home, and messages on Herb's megaphone ("I'm the tour guide!", "Help! I lost my tour group!"). Ms. Frizzle's sly pretended ignorance at times also makes for high hilarity. "I can't imagine how that happened. Can you?" she says, after the airplane door somehow swings open. If only all education was this much fun! (Ages 5 to 8) --Emilie Coulter


From Publishers Weekly
Fans of The Magic School Bus will enjoy Ms. Frizzle's Adventures: Ancient Egypt by Joanna Cole, illus. by Bruce Degen. In this, the first of a new social studies/history series, the offbeat educator takes a vacation and winds up taking over her Cairo-bound tour group. Word balloons, "travel diary" entries and plucky sidebars teach readers about the ancient alphabet, mummification and daily life in this fascinating civilization. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
Gr 2-6-Ms. Frizzle, minus the Magic School Bus, has entered the realm of social studies with the same flair and excitement she took to science. In this new history series, Cole and Degen have adapted many of the cherished attributes of the original concept and applied it to the flamboyant teacher's ability to explore ancient worlds. It is time for a vacation and the Friz is off to Cairo. However, she and her group parachute out of the plane and land in ancient Egypt. During the time warp, the travel guide has conveniently remained in the present-day, whereby readers get both the old and new points of view. The Friz and friends make their way through the ancient markets, dwellings, and rivers. They help build the pyramids, assist in the process of mummification when the pharaoh dies, work in the flooded fields of the Nile, and participate in ancient celebrations. Their guide continues to give the standard tour of today to the other tourists. Degen's cartoon artwork gives readers even more helpful information as sidebars with diaries, notebooks, postcards, labels, and diagrams, as well as dialogue balloons abound. The trim size is larger here than in the Friz's earlier titles, and there are more panels per page. The combination of fiction and nonfiction is once again a stunning success with this new series that should move to the forefront of introductory material on ancient civilizations. It's funny, it's fun, and it's informative.Betsy Barnett, Eads School District, COCopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Gr. 3-6. In this spin-off from the Magic School Bus series, Ms. Frizzle boards a plane headed for Egypt. Magically, as the tour guide heads for modern Cairo, Ms. Frizzle and the rest of the multiethnic, multigenerational tour group travel back in time. Frizzle immediately takes over and leads the group through many adventures: folks learn first hand about the Nile, papyrus, pyramids, and mummification. Numerous details of modern Egyptian life are also presented. In addition to history and science, there's a lot of clever wordplay as characters make amusing asides at each other's expense. The appealing mix of fact and humor, with Degen's detailed, cartoonlike illustrations, will whet appetites for more information on Egypt. Marta Segal
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
In this exciting new book about ancient Egypt, Ms. Frizzle dives into the arena of social studies with the same zest she has always shown for science. After joining a tour group, the Friz is soon the one in charge. She and the group parachute into the past, where they help build a pyramid and witness the making of a mummy. With Ms. Frizzle as a guide, readers will be eager to discover the enchanting history of Egypt.



Card catalog description
Ms. Frizzle and her tour group are transported to ancient Egypt, where they learn about the pyramids, mummification, flooding of the Nile, and other aspects of life in Egypt long ago.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In this exciting new book about ancient Egypt, Ms. Frizzle dives into the arena of social studies with the same zest she has always shown for science. After joining a tour group, the Friz is soon the one in charge. She and the group parachute into the past, where they help build a pyramid and witness the making of a mummy. With Ms. Frizzle as a guide, readers will be eager to discover the enchanting history of Egypt.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly