CHASKA AND THE GOLDEN DOLL

The true story of how one Andean village was able to fund a school. Chaska loves to listen to Grandfather's tales, especially one about Papa Inti, whose sweat fell to earth as drops of gold resembling kernels of maize. The old man describes how the Incas made splendid artifacts of this gold, including idols honoring Papa Inti, and how strangers long ago stole most of them. When Chaska actually finds an idol among ancient Inca ruins, village law decrees that she may keep or use it as she wishes. Realizing that what she wants most is schooling, she decides to part with the doll, which is sold to a nearby museum to provide money for the local school. Alexander, author of Llama and the Great Flood (1989), is familiar with Chaska's village. Her appealing narrative is nicely complemented by sympathetic, carefully observed drawings enhanced with watercolors; Papa Inti is the sun itself. A likable, useful contribution. (Nonfiction/Picture book. 4-8)