Hands of the Maya: Villagers at Work and Play
Kindergarten-Grade 4-This picture book opens with a simple but colorful map of Mesoamerica and a brief foreword by the author describing her stay at a village in Belize. In the pages that follow, readers are offered snapshots of Maya villagers throughout the course of a day. Each spread features two photos: a small picture with a few lines of text opposite a full-page, close-up shot (often a detail of the same scene). The residents are most often depicted working: carrying firewood, preparing meals, sowing maize, and weaving, clearly illustrating the author's observation that "Maya hands are seldom still." The text, basically commentary on the activities in the photos, is somewhat choppy. Framed color photographs are attractively placed against a background of pale yellow and shadowy glyph forms. Despite a few grainy shots, the illustrations will interest children. This title can be used to introduce youngsters to other cultures and will supplement units on Central America and the Maya.Daryl Grabarek, School Library JournalCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.