Mexico & Central America: A Fiesta of Cultures, Crafts, and Activities for Ages 8-12
Grade 3-7–Beginning with a historical overview of the Mayan and Aztec civilizations, this book provides a wealth of information about the Latino cultures originating in Mexico and Central America. Mayan math and art designs, floatingchinampagardens, language, traditions, and the calendar of the Aztecs precede a quick summary of facts about each country and a description of culture (art, holidays, schools, and games) by geographic location–the mountains, Atlantic coast, and borderlands. Thirty-five activities, from short plays to art projects, allow children to explore bits of everyday life, but so many activities in separate boxes often interrupt the narrative, forcing readers to turn pages to look for the next sentence in the continuing text. Age-appropriate art and cooking activities reveal the region's diversity, but the book also includes discussion of the dangers inherent in illegal border crossings and the existence of sweatshops amid a discussion of employment and needs of Mexico's citizens. Information about unions, the creation of political puppets, a play about striking workers, a listing of Web sites that support union ideals, and an emphasis on undocumented Latino immigrants to the U.S. are placed in chapters entitled "Going to School," "Art and Poetry," "Daily Grind," and "La Frontera: Borderlands." As a teacher resource, this book includes unique and entertaining activities; however, the political nature of some topics indicates an audience of older students not included in the front-cover advisory. An additional purchase.–Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TXCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.