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32 pp.
| Piñata
| October, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-55885-855-8$17.95
(4)
K-3
Translated by Gabriela Baeza Ventura.
Illustrated by
Gabhor Utomo.
Nuyorican poet and playwright Laviera leaves us with this posthumously published story in English and Spanish. Mayan prince Mayanito travels throughout the western hemisphere befriending the fauna, flora, and Indigenous children of the Americas. Or was it a dream? The fantastical narrative meanders but sends a clear message of unity and oneness--not just among people, but also with nature--a point underscored by the watercolor illustrations.
(3)
4-6
Pyramid Hunters series.
Sam discovered in The Iron Tomb that his parents are still alive. He and his friend Mary embark on another adventure, this time in Belize, where they search for both Sam's parents and more hidden treasures. The protagonists are a likable pair whose interactions keep the story interesting in between the action. Mystery, intrigue, and twists keep the plot humming along to its conclusion.
40 pp.
| Lee/Children's
| October, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-89239-374-9$18.95
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Elisa Chavarri.
Ixchel wants to sell woven fabrics to help pay for her schooling, but there's no extra thread. After failed attempts with other materials, Ixchel discovers that she can weave using colorful plastic grocery bags discarded on the roadside. An inspiring story (with an intelligent Spanish translation) combines beautifully with bright illustrations faithful to the Guatemalan Mayan weaving traditions this book celebrates. Author's note appended. Glos.
(4)
4-6
Edge Books: History Hunters series.
This series provides brief surveys of ancient civilizations. In each book, double-page spreads focus on an aspect of culture, politics, military, home life, etc. The layout--with its many illustrations, background colors, bold vocabulary words, and fonts--is eye-catching without being distracting. The unfortunately named "Deadly Secrets" guessing game in several sections adds an interesting challenge, but the information is sparse. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Edge Books: History Hunters titles: Ancient Greece, Ancient China, and The Mayans.
(3)
YA
Ancient Civilizations series.
Each volume introduces a civilization by covering a wide variety of topics including origins, political systems, religions, and daily life. Chapters are broken into subcategories, with numerous sidebars, photos, illustrations, and maps adding detail to the main narrative. The texts themselves are accessible without dumbing down the information. There are four other spring 2015 books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. This review covers the following Ancient Civilizations titles: Ancient Maya, Ancient Rome, Ancient Mesopotamia, and Ancient India.
130 pp.
| Random
| June, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-0-553-51081-2$12.99
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-553-51082-9$15.99
|
EbookISBN 978-0-553-51083-6
(3)
1-3
Magic Tree House series.
Illustrated by
Sal Murdocca.
Time-traveling siblings Annie and Jack are given a surprise mission: go on vacation. They pick Cozumel and the Yucatan Peninsula, hoping for a peaceful tropical holiday. Instead, they find themselves fending off shark attacks and being groomed to inherit a Mayan kingdom. The series' trademark fast-paced action and cliffhanger chapter endings propel the plot. Murdocca's black-and-white illustrations provide welcome resting places.
366 pp.
| Egmont
| February, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-1-60684-376-5$16.99
(4)
4-6
Jaguar Stones series.
Max, Lola, and their companions continue their quest to find the Jaguar Stones. They end up on a wild globetrotting adventure that includes talking monkeys, ghost ships, ancient Central American cities, and a baseball game featuring the ghosts of Red Sox past. The whole setup is bizarre, but fans will want to keep reading to see how the exciting series wraps up.
(4)
4-6
Searchlight Books: What Can We Learn from Early Civilizations? series.
This series explores daily life in ancient civilizations and how various concepts and tools they invented influenced modern times. "Tools" and "treasures" are fairly loosely defined, making the books wide-reaching but also somewhat of a hodgepodge of topics; connections to current civilization are tenuous. Informative sidebars and photographs of interesting artifacts and sites break up the text. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. This review covers these Searchlight Books: What Can We Learn from Early Civilizations? titles: Tools and Treasures of Ancient Egypt, Tools and Treasures of Ancient Greece, Tools and Treasures of Ancient Mesopotamia, Tools and Treasures of Ancient Rome, Tools and Treasures of the Ancient Maya, and Tools and Treasures of Ancient China.
(4)
K-3
Tales of the World series.
Illustrated by
Kristina Rodanas.
Life in Elena's Guatemalan village is difficult, but she finds satisfaction in trying to master Spanish in school so that she can share the stories she reads with younger brother Luis and her mother, who speaks Mam (a Mayan language). The story itself is flat, but traditional clothing, cultural details, and Central American scenery are strongly realized in the evocative illustrations.
48 pp.
| Getty
| April, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-1-60606-008-7$9.95
(4)
4-6
Despite its name, the volume is more like a small encyclopedia in that each god's entry is one or two pages long. The Aztec gods are discussed first, followed by the Mayan. Additionally, gods are separated into sections based on type or purpose ("Creator Gods," "Gods of War," etc.). Small pictures of ancient artworks (unsourced) illustrate the information.
96 pp.
| Lucent
| June, 2010
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4205-0240-4$33.45
(4)
YA
World History series.
Each volume presents the history and culture of the title Mesoamerican civilization, from its inception to its fall. Each text begins with the group's earliest influences but focuses mainly on the culture's peaks. Aspects explored include daily lives, religion, and cultural achievements. Captioned reproductions and sidebars illustrate the rather dry writing. The timeline of Maya has an error. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these World History titles: Maya Civilization and Aztec Civilization.
416 pp.
| Egmont
| April, 2010
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-60684-093-2$20.99
|
PaperISBN 978-1-60684-071-9$8.99
(4)
4-6
Jaguar Stones series.
Max Murphy is a moody, selfish fourteen-year-old. When his archaeologist parents abandon a family vacation for a Mayan dig, Max's fury lasts until he's sent to rescue them in Central America. Although the characters are thinly developed, murder, smugglers, and volatile Mayan deities keep the plot moving. The extensive information on Mayan culture will appeal to history fans. Glos.
368 pp.
| Egmont
| December, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-1-60684-072-6$16.99
(4)
4-6
Jaguar Stones series.
After rescuing his parents from the Mayan underworld, Max Murphy (Middleworld) owes the repulsive Lords of Death any favor they request. Max's assigned task will secure his family's freedom, but it will also grant the vile Lords omnipotent domain over Earth. Despite some plot holes, this globetrotting adventure has satisfying doses of action, suspense, and awkward adolescent romance.
64 pp.
| Brown Bear
| September, 2009
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-933834-58-0$35.65
(3)
YA
Facts at Your Fingertips: Ancient Civilizations series.
This well-organized series introduces readers to political and social histories of civilizations past. A helpful introduction describing the book's structure precedes two-page sections on various aspects of the title culture; helpful maps, illustrations, and sidebars are included throughout. The sophisticated texts (printed in a small font) are generally easy to follow. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Facts at Your Fingertips: Ancient Civilizations titles: Ancient Aztec and Maya, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Ancient Mesopotamia, and Ancient Rome.
64 pp.
| National
| February, 2008
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4263-0227-5$17.95
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4263-0228-2$27.90
(3)
4-6
National Geographic Investigates series.
This series discusses how archaeologists' work helps us learn about ancient cultures. Each volume highlights major sites and finds; the text touches on the impact of modern history on priceless artifacts and discusses controversies. Sidebars and well-captioned photos expand on the information, as does an interview with a working archaeologist. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review includes these National Geographic Investigates titles: Ancient Pueblo, Ancient Rome, Ancient Celts, and Ancient Maya.
64 pp.
| Groundwood
| September, 2008
|
TradeISBN 978-0-88899-896-5$19.95
(4)
4-6
Translated by David Unger.
Illustrated by
Domi.
With Dante Liano. Ixkem, a seven-year-old Mayan girl, is selected to be caretaker of her grandfather's vast cornfields. After inadvertently calling up the b'e'n spirits, she's brought underground to tell stories. Though the prose is generally flat (and seldom in the voice of a child), some of the tales, thoughtfully presented, might have appeal. Bright, primitivist illustrations accompany the text. Glos.
32 pp.
| Heinemann
| July, 2008
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4329-1330-4$26.79 New ed. (2002)
(4)
K-3
History Opens Windows series.
Focusing on the details of everyday life (food, family, buildings, children), this updated series serves as an adequate introduction to past cultures for younger readers. The bright design and engaging illustrations, which include artifacts, period artwork, and photographs, may be enough to hold readers' attention despite the rather sterile texts. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these History Opens Windows titles: Ancient West African Kingdoms, The Aztecs, The Incas, The Indus Valley, The Maya, The Sumerians, and The Vikings.
96 pp.
| Chelsea
| July, 2007
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-8160-6820-3$35.00 New ed. (1990, Facts)
(4)
4-6
Cultural Atlas for Young People series.
Updated by Peter Mitchell. The history, geography, and cultures of these ancient civilizations are briefly introduced in double-page spreads illustrated with maps, photographs, and drawings. The presentation can be disjointed and some complex issues are glossed over, but readers mainly interested in browsing will uncover some fascinating tidbits. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cultural Atlas for Young People titles: Ancient China, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Ancient Maya & Aztec Civilizations, Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient Rome, and The Middle Ages.
64 pp.
| DK
| April, 2004
|
TradeISBN 0-7566-0410-9$15.99
|
LibraryISBN 0-7566-0411-7$19.99
(4)
4-6
GuÃas visuales series.
Photographs by
Michel Zabe.
Although the DK format is ill suited to conveying any substantial or sustained information, these translations may be useful because there is such a dearth of Spanish material for children on these topics. As always, the many crisp photos will attract casual browsers. Ind. Review covers these GuÃas visuales titles: Aztecas, Incas y Mayas, Anfibios, Reptiles, Cuerpo humano, Peces, and La tierra.
225 pp.
| HarperTempest
| April, 2004
|
TradeISBN 0-06-009004-9$$16.99
|
LibraryISBN 0-06-009005-7$$17.89
(3)
YA
Fifteen-year-old Gabriela survives the massacre of her village and subsequent journey to a Mexican refugee camp during the civil war in Guatemala. Based on a true story, this is a terrifying, sad, but ultimately hopeful novel. Readers who can get past the graphic but appropriate violence will be rewarded with a deeper understanding of the costs of war.