Tools and Treasures of the Ancient Maya

April 1, 2014
Grades 3-5 This introduction gives young readers an overview of ancient Mayan civilization. The text can be a bit repetitive as it discusses the daily life and culture of the Mayans, but the illustrations are visually appealing. Set against an attractive design, images showcasing various aspects of Mayan culture, especially the carvings and statues, will catch kids' eyes. Every photo has a short caption or a question that refers back to the text, sometimes only a few sentences below the topic it refers to. This can be a clunky way to get readers to process the information, but it does reinforce the facts. Readers will be intrigued by the mysterious demise of the Mayan civilization, which may lead them to the short bibliography and list of websites appended.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

April 1, 2014

Gr 3-5-Written to meet new standards that introduce ancient cultures in the early grades, these books share a common format: large, full-color photos and illustrations of artifacts or scenes of daily life in the culture. Each book's four chapters introduce the country's culture and describe its people's daily lives, major achievements, and eventual decline or conquest. Text is limited to a few sentences per page, providing ample space for the strongest element, the high-quality illustrative material. Captions provide nearly as much information as the text, and some ask questions to guide reading or elicit critical thinking. Each book includes a full-page map and retelling of the culture's creation story or important folklore. Although not exceptional, these books provide basic introductory information and a good visual history of each culture's material treasures, making them strong additional purchases for elementary schools.

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.