Capoeira: Game! Dance! Martial Art!
Starred Review.Grade 2–6—Full-color photos and lively text introduce a sport that "combines dance, music, and acrobatics with fighting techniques." Action-packed pictures of capoeiristas—people who play capoeira—in both the United States and Brazil make this an eye-catching title. Ancona explains the basics of the game before delving into its history, helping readers with no background on the subject gain an understanding of the art before putting it into context. His discussion of the beginnings of capoeira, which was developed primarily by African slaves brought to Brazil. Short biographies of the two founders of the sport's most common modern schools are presented before returning to modern photographs that show some of the differences in styles of play. The participants represent a wide range of ages and ethnicities, reflecting the game's multicultural heritage. A glossary offers pronunciations and definitions for Portuguese words, which are also defined in the narrative. An excellent purchase for libraries that serve Brazilian populations or communities in which martial arts are popular.—Alana Abbott, James Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford, CTCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.