Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 4^-6, younger for reading aloud. With photos of great pyramids and reproductions of ancient Mayan drawings, Ancona takes readers on a journey to the land and people of his ancestors. By introducing readers to an engaging contemporary family, Ancona ably interweaves the history of a people, the ancient Mayeros, with the daily life of their descendants, a Mayero family of today. He compares and contrasts many aspects of life back then and today. The home of dona Satulina and don Victor and their children is not unlike the house carved over the entrance to the ancient Mayan temple in the ruins of Uxmal in the Yucatan. Women today grind spices with stone metates, just as they have for centuries. Kids may find it easy to relate to the young boys featured in the book as they go to school, march in a parade, take rides on carousel horses, and dance. An author's note provides additional historical information. Also included is a useful glossary and pronunciation guide of Spanish and Yucatec words. --Karen Morgan
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-5Ancona journeys to his Mayan roots and chronicles the daily lives of a rural family in the Yucatan Peninsula. Descendants of the ancient Mayan Indians, they live in the shadow of their pyramids in a culture still vibrant and alive. In an involving text, the activities of three generations of men, women, and children are described. In addition, information about the geography and history of the region is seamlessly interspersed throughout the narrative. When doña Satulina hauls water from the well behind her house, readers learn that natural underground pools called cenotes furnish fresh water. As the family prepares for an upcoming six-day fiesta in the nearby town, daily tasks are linked either to Mayan traditions or customs introduced by Spanish explorers. Crisp, full-color photographs amplify the actions described in the text, as do reproductions of ancient Mayan illustrations. This portrayal of warm family life within a vital community is a modern accompaniment to the history in Jacqueline D. Greene's The Maya (Watts, 1992). Ancona provides a unique perspective on the vibrant survival of an enduring way of life among such modern adaptations as bullfights, carousels, and school.Frances E. Millhouser, Chantilly Regional Library, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Ancona, whose grandmother lived in Yucatán, describes a particular Yucatec Maya family, their everyday activities, and their preparations for an upcoming town fiesta. Captioned color photographs are sometimes accompanied by reproductions of ancient artwork that show how certain practices are still in existence, such as using a planting stick to plant maize. The pictures give the book the appearance of a family photo album. Glos. From HORN BOOK 1997, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
