A leading author and illustrator collaborate in a fine compilation of creation myths—a basic component of any folklore collection. Each of the 25 stories is told in spare, dignified language appropriate to its source and is followed by a brief discussion of its origin and type. While many cultures are included, there is more emphasis on presenting a variety of mythological figures and interpretations than on equal representation. Five stories come from the Americas, from Eskimo to Mayan; four from the Pacific, including Australia; five from Africa. There are a few stories from Europe and Asia, five from the ancient Mediterranean world (including three of the Greek myths), and the concluding piece is from Genesis, shining as the brightest in this bright firmament. Moser's dark, powerful portraits of the Creators are dramatically framed in stark white. A rich mix of fascinating stories, making an excellent introduction to myths and their cross-cultural connections. Memorable bookmaking. List of sources.
Pub Date: Sept. 10, 1988
ISBN: 0152387420
Page Count: 180
Publisher: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1988
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A solid treatment of a fascinating subject, introducing young readers to cities that rose and fell long before our time.
An intriguing introduction to ancient cities in the Americas and the cultures that supported them.
Young readers will be amazed that a city named Cahokia thrived on the Mississippi River 500 years before Columbus arrived in the New World, a city with 3,000 structures and a great pyramid on a 200-acre plaza. Likewise, underneath modern-day Mexico City lie the ruins of Tenochtitlán, the ancient capital of the Aztec Empire. These cities, along with Cuzco (a 14th-century Incan city) and Copán (a jungle city of the Maya), are the focus of this clear and readable volume, in which Aveni discusses how the cities arose, flourished and fell, noting that “no civilization’s power lasts forever.” Small maps complement the discussion of each city, and a pronunciation guide helps with some (though not all) of the difficult names. The volume is not just about ancient cities, but also about lessons to be learned from them: “If we look closely enough, we can discover where they succeeded and why they failed. That’s the lesson of history.”
A solid treatment of a fascinating subject, introducing young readers to cities that rose and fell long before our time. (source notes) (Nonfiction. 10-14)Pub Date: Nov. 19, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-59643-567-4
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Sept. 17, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2013
Do teens know that the oldest tattooed mummy was a European who lived more than 5,000 years ago before being frozen into a...
Cool tats, blinged-out nails, drag-queen makeup and more.
Do teens know that the oldest tattooed mummy was a European who lived more than 5,000 years ago before being frozen into a glacier? Or that women and girls of the Miao Long Horn group in China wear their hair 2 feet wide and 8 inches high, while the Masai women of Eastern Africa shave their hair off? Gordon’s all-too-brief yet informative account of the ways humans have decorated themselves throughout history tells it all—or as much as can be told in under 60 pages. Each section begins with a highly accessible connection to a current celebrity mainstay, such as Beyoncé, Katy Perry and Rihanna, then dives headfirst into the fascinating, multicultural history of each beauty trend. The narrative style is so succinct that readers will find they’ve already devoured a whole section of the book without even noticing, and full-color and black-and-white photos make the read all the more enticing. Readership will be wide—from preteen girls and boys on up through teens. Readers should know that Gordon explicitly points out that men throughout history have worn makeup and jewelry and have paid close attention to their hair. Great for research but better as a jumping-off block for youth who are interested in the cultural history of adornment. (source notes, bibliography, further information, index) (Nonfiction. 10-16)Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4677-1467-9
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Twenty-First Century/Lerner
Review Posted Online: Nov. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2013
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