Module 11: Bury the Dead

Module 11 focused on informational and non-fiction books.  One title that caught my attention was Bury the Dead: Tombs, Corpses, Mummies, Skeletons, & Rituals, written by Christopher Sloan.  I have always been fascinated by other cultures as well as bones, so this was a great book for me!  I remember reading a similar book when I was in fourth grade, so I think this type of book would appeal to a wide range of readers.

Image Credit: http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/ngs/product/books/kids-books-and-atlases/culture/bury-the-dead

Kirkus Reviews describes Bury the Dead by saying: "Writing in consultation with a grief specialist, the author tries for a sober, straightforward narrative tone--which falters when he mentions particularly exotic customs, such as the Yanomami practice of pulverizing and eating their dead, or has to contend with an artist's reconstruction of Scythian mourners cutting themselves, not to mention the numerous close-up photos of mummies and bones. Still, most of these illustrations and examples are striking without being sensationalistic; both thrill seekers and children seeking some perspective on death or grief will fred this rewarding reading."

I thought this was a very interesting book - it presents funerary rituals in a respectful way, without sensationalizing the less common or Western practices that children in the United States would be familiar with.  There are lots of great photographs and graphics throughout the book, but plenty of text to accompany and explain what the reader is seeing on the pages.  I liked that the book presents death rituals from ancient through modern times, highlighting some of the reasons scientists believe the facts presented in the book.  I would recommend this for readers 3rd-9th grade.

Teachers could use this book as a jumping off point for assigning a research assignment.  Students could work in groups (or individually for older students) to research one of the cultures presented in the book and their death practices, and then present their findings in a report or presentation to their class.  The book has a great bibliography in the back that the teacher (and librarian!) could use to help the students find additional resources about their topic.

References:
Sloan, C.  (2002).  Bury the Dead: Tombs, Corpses, Mummies, Skeletons, & Rituals.  Washington, D.C.: National Geographic.
(2002).  Bury the Dead (Book).  Kirkus Reviews, 70(17), 1320.