Ancient Americas: Children's History Books

AN ANASAZI WELCOME
by Kay Matthews. B&W illustrations by Barbara Belknap. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1992 Red Crane (Santa Fe) soft cover, no printing given. While the interior is clean, tight & perfect, shelf-wear has not been kind to the cover - edgewear with rubbings along spine anda hinge crease front spine. Questions encouraged. Content: Nora and Maud move with their family to the Southwest where they begin to build an adobe house. It is hard for them to understand their new home whee plants have thorns instead of leaves and instead of grass there are rocks and sand. With the help of Gramps, Anasazi ghost Eya, and all the creatures - lizards, birds, spiders, and snakes - who also have their homes there, they learn to respect not only the land but the different kinds of people and animals who make it a special palce. This book teaches childre that reverence for the land, its history, peoples, and animals will allow us all to live in peace and harmony. Ages 6+. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.99 + $ 2.99 media shipping.

ANCIENT DWELLINGS OF THE SOUTHWEST
by Derek Gallagher. Historically accurate color illustrations by Sally Blakemore. Paper engineering: Eileen Banashek, Sally Blakemore, & Anthony Esparsen. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 2004 Western National Parks Assn. hardcover (pictorial boards), no edition nor printing given. Lightly perused on shelf. Problem: Pale name top inside cover with 2 Parks Assn. proof-of-purchase stamp. Content: Archeologists say that 1,000 years ago more people lived in the Four Corners region of the Southwest than live there now. Today visitors to the region see the empty dwellings and pueblos from that time, but not the lively cultures that once built them. Ancient Dwellings of the Southwest puts the people back in these places in three dimensions. Hohokam ball players leap and dive in the ballcourt at Casa Grande Ruins in Arizona; the reader moves women at Mesa Verde in Colorado to watch them grind corn or pulls back the bow of a hunter at Bandelier in New Mexico. The buildings at all of these sites vibrate with life thanks to the artist’s conceptualizing of how they looked at the height of their use. The five-story Pueblo Bonito at Chaco Canyon unfolds out of the page while the dwellings at Bandelier and Mesa Verde nestle in the shadow of the cliffs. See how these places looked when people lived, worked, and played in them. Ages 6+. The neat thing about these pop-ups is that each has another pop-up on the reverse side. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 6.49 + $ 2.99 media shipping.

ANCIENT DWELLINGS OF THE SOUTHWEST
by Derek Gallagher. Historically accurate color illustrations by Sally Blakemore. Paper engineering: Eileen Banashek, Sally Blakemore, & Anthony Esparsen. Condition: NEW & perfect 2004 Western National Parks Assn. hardcover (pictorial boards), no edition nor printing given. Content: Archeologists say that 1,000 years ago more people lived in the Four Corners region of the Southwest than live there now. Today visitors to the region see the empty dwellings and pueblos from that time, but not the lively cultures that once built them. Ancient Dwellings of the Southwest puts the people back in these places in three dimensions. Hohokam ball players leap and dive in the ballcourt at Casa Grande Ruins in Arizona; the reader moves women at Mesa Verde in Colorado to watch them grind corn or pulls back the bow of a hunter at Bandelier in New Mexico. The buildings at all of these sites vibrate with life thanks to the artist’s conceptualizing of how they looked at the height of their use. The five-story Pueblo Bonito at Chaco Canyon unfolds out of the page while the dwellings at Bandelier and Mesa Verde nestle in the shadow of the cliffs. See how these places looked when people lived, worked, and played in them. Ages 6+. The neat thing about these pop-ups is that each has another pop-up on the reverse side. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 7.99 + $ 2.99 media shipping.

AZTEC, INCA & MAYA & Clip Art CD (DK Eyewitness Books series - Revised Edition)
by Elizabeth Baquedano. Wonderful color photos by Michel Zabe. Color photos and drawings illustrate. Condition: UNREAD 2011 DK hard cover (pictorial boards - no DJ issued), revised edition, first printing. Clip Art disc included. Content: The three major civilizations of the Americas are introduced here in a compare-and-contrast, scattershot approach. Small, sparkling, full-color captioned photographs of cities, pottery, jewelry, and clothing accompany one-paragraph texts on such general topics (treated on two pages each) as farming, hunting and fishing, family life, and more. Photos of the Mexican National Archeological Museum's re-creations of scenes of daily life are used to depict such ancient activities as trade, tribute, and medicine. Illustrations from the pages of the Mayan codices are reproduced throughout. Always fascinating history from DK. Ages 9+. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 10.59 + $ 3.39 media shipping.

THE AZTECS
by Donna Walsh Shepherd. Color maps, drawings, Codex reproductions & artifact photos. Condition: UNREAD c. 1994 Franklin Watts soft cover, second printing. Tiny shelf wear to cover. Price-clipped loose end page. Content: Describes, in word and illustration, the lives of the ancient Aztecs: their religion, origins, rise to power, and lifestyle. Excellent for home schooling. Questions welcome. [1 copy left.]
$ 2.49 + $ 2.99 media shipping.

THE AZTECS ACTIVITY BOOK (British Museum Activity Books)
by Penny Bateman. B&W drawings for coloring illustrate. Condition: NEW 2007 British Museum soft cover, seventh impression. Content: Reviewer: "This book offers various activities for teachers and parents to teach their children about Aztec culture. It has lots of coloring pages and a wonderful and easy to read timeline about central Mexico and Southern Mesoamerica as well as Egypt and Hawaii. You will also learn all about how the Aztec built their capital city on a lake and what the kids did. The books also has a merchant game and illustrations (food, drinks, markets, games, calendar, Gods, and Goddesses, the conquest, and the Aztec today) so you can photocopy for your kids (students) to color. The entire book is in English. Questions welcome. [1 copy left.]
$ 4.50 + $ 2.99 media shipping.

BURIED BENEATH US: Discovering the Ancient Cities of the Americas
by Anthony Aveni. Wonderful B&W illustrations by Katherine Roy. Condition: NEW 2013 Roaring Brook Press hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), 1st edition, 1st printing. ONE PROBLEM: shelf-wear small "chip" top back DJ edge. Content: A beautifully illustrated look at the forces that help cities grow—and eventually cause their destruction—told through the stories of the great civilizations of ancient America. You may think you know all of the American cities. But did you know that long before New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, or Boston ever appeared on the map—thousands of years before Europeans first colonized North America—other cities were here? They grew up, fourished, and eventually disappeared in the same places that modern cities like St. Louis and Mexico City would later appear. In the pages of this book, you'll find the astonishing story of how they grew from small settlements to booming city centers—and then crumbled into ruins. Perfect for home schooling and public school libraries. Let's get kids interested in our own "ancient" history. Aveni also engages readers in a discussion of "what makes/what is" a city. Sort of a Mumford for kids. Great! Questions welcome. [1 copy left.]
$ 6.69 + $ 2.99 media shipping.

CALENDARIO MAYA (Maya Calendar)
by Sidney Hollander and Eduardo Perez de Heredia. Vivid color drawings from the Codex. Condition: UNREAD c. 1998+ Calendario Maya (Mexico) hardcover (made to look and feel like a stone tablet), third edition. No DJ issued. Content: Based on the Popol Vuh, this book is excellent for older kids or adults. The book unfolds like a Codex. The cover is "aged" a bit to appear old. The colorful illustrations are from Codex figures. Explores Maya numbering system, the Long Count, The Lord of the Night, Tsolkin, Haab, Calendar Round, Reading Stela, and how to make your own personal Stela. [1 copy available]
$ 6.98 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

A Coloring Book of INCAS, AZTECS & MAYAS And Other Precolumbian Peoples
by Bellerophon Books. B&W drawings. Condition: NEW 2008 Bellerophon Books soft cover, no printing given. Content: The Pre-Columbian civilizations had some masterly artists -- this coloring book contains their finest artwork. There are ballplayers, dancers, calendars, counting devices and a pantheon of gods to be colored. Reviewer: "This is a great book to use in middle and some high school classes. It shows the artwork, style and abilities of PreColumbian artist. Actual figures and glyphs from various archaeologial sites and museum codex pages give history, geography and anthropology students a real sense of PreColumbian life styles, interest, history and religions." Original artwork from stele, Codices, and DePoma Inca art. Also includes Moche art. Excellent! Questions welcome. [2 copies left.]
$ 5.39 + $ 2.99 media shipping. International shipping available.

THE CHOCOLATE TREE: A Mayan Folktale (On My Own Folklore series)
by Linda Lowery and Richard Keep. Wonderful, vivid stylized color illustrations by Janice Lee Porter. Condition: NEW 2009 Millbrook Press soft cover, second printing. Content: Ever wonder where chocolate came from? We have the Mayan king Kukulkán to thank. Kukulkán is more than a king--he is also a god. One day he brings his people an amazing gift: a chocolate tree! But there is just one problem. Kukulkán's brother, Night Jaguar, doesn't want regular people to have chocolate. He thinks only gods should eat the tempting treat. Will Night Jaguar prevail? Or will the Mayans get to keep their chocolate tree? Ages 7+. Questions welcome. [2 copies left.]
$ 4.59 + $ 2.99 media shipping. International shipping available.

CHANA, AN ANASAZI GIRL: Historical paper Doll Book to Read, Color and Cut
by Jan Mike. B&W illustrations by Cathie Lowmiller. Condition: NEW 1992 Treasure Chest soft cover, no printing given. Content: Excellent intro for youngsters to the Ancient American Anasazi Indians of the Southwest. Color the clothing, pottery, household items, etc. and then cut them out and create a scene on the pull-out cliff dwelling. I love this book! [1 copy available.]
$ 5.49 + $ 2.99 media shipping.

CITIES IN THE SAND: The Ancient Civilizations of the Southwest
written & photographed by Scott Warren. Color maps also. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1993 Harcourt Brace hardcover (pictorial boards -no DJ issued), first printing. Light shelf wear to back cover (pale scratches). School resource book. Content: The American Southwest has been home to a variety of peoples and cultures, dating back at least 11,000 years. This is an investigation of three loosely identified Native American cultural groups: the Anasazi, the Hohokam, and the Mogollon. The first three brief chapters are an explanation of archaeological techniques and a description of the physical setting that was home to the cultures included. Each is then depicted in separate chapters. The book is graced with attractive color photographs, many of them full-page. Written in a textbook style, this should be a good resource for research and reports. Grades 4 - 7. [2 copies available]
$ 4.00 + $ 2.99 media shipping.

CIVILISATIONS OF PERU BEFORE 1535 (Looking Back series)
by Hazel Mary Martell. Color Photos. Condition: NEW 1999 Evans Brothers (London) hardcoveer (pictorial boards), first edition. Beautiful color photos of artwork, cities, maps. Content: A quick overview of Andean cultures before the Spanish invasion - includes the Chimu, Nazca, Paracas, Moche, Tiahuanaco, Huari, and those glorious Incas. Grade school ages.
$ 3.50 + $ 2.99 media shipping.

THE CORN GROWS RIPE (Puffin Newbery Library)
by Dorothy Rhoads. Jean Charlot B&W illustrations. Cover art by Neil Waldman. Condition: NEW 1993 Puffin - Troll soft cover, 7th printing. Content: When his father is badly injured in an accident, a young Mayan boy called Tigre wonders who will plant and harvest the corn that they need to survive--and to please the Mayan gods. Twelve-year-old Tigre has never done a man's work before. Now he will have to take his father's place. A Newbery Honor Book. 96 pages. Ages 9 - 12. [2 copies available]
$ 3.50 + $ 2.99 media shipping.

THE DWARF-WIZARD OF UXMAL
by Susan Hand Shetterly. Vivid color illustrations by Robert Shetterly. Condition: NEW shrink-wrapped 1990 Atheneum hardcover & DJ, first edition, no printing given. Content: This is a retelling of a Yucatan Mayan hero legend. A tiny dwarf is hatched from an egg and raised by a reclusive old woman. On his 15th birthday, the old woman instructs the boy, Tol, to challenge the leader of the city of Uxmal. Aided by magic, he does, fulfilling an ancient prophesy. This telling is steeped in ritual and ceremonial lore, using animals, foods, and dress to enrich the sense of locale and culture. The story should engage the interest of children who enjoy more protracted tales; the vivid imagery of its words recommends it for reading aloud. Grades 3 - 5+. [1 copy available]
$ 10.29 + $ 2.99 media shipping.

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE ANCIENT AMERICAS: Exploe the Wonders of the Aztec, Maya, Inca, North American Indians & Arctic Peoples
by Jen Green, Fiona MacDonald, Philip Steele, Michael Stotter. Beautiful, historically accurate, color illustrations. Detailed "how-to" color photos. Condition: NEW 2001 Southwater huge, over-size soft cover, first printing. Shipping weight 3.5 pounds. Content: Reviewer: "There are 4 large sections: Aztec & Maya, Incas, North American Indians, and Arctic Peoples. Each section is set up rather like a DK book, with several color photos (and a few drawings) and text around them. There is lots of information about how each group of people lived, what they believed, some of their history, etc. There are several craft activities for each section, as well. The weakest section is the North American section, since the information for all groups is together. While readers are informed of the different types of homes, clothing, and general lifestyle between the various cultures, there is little information on any specific culture. Readers wanting information on a particular group (Cherokee, Navajo, etc.) will need an additional source. Overall, this is a very good beginning place for learning about ancient American cultures & peoples, especially for children from 5-12 years old (With 5 year olds looking at the pictures and being told a little, and perhaps doing a few crafts with help, and older children reading the text for themselves and doing the crafts alone). After reading the appropriate section of this book, readers will be ready to learn more about whatever specific group they are interested in." This is an excellent book. Over 800 photos & illustrations, including inside-view artworks of homes of the past; exciting historical models to make at home or school; and pictorial maps and timelines. For junior high and up, but all ages will appreciate, IMHO. [1 copy available]
$ 10.49 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

THE FLAME OF PEACE: A Tale of the Aztecs
story and color illustrations by Deborah Nourse Lattimore. Condition: UNREAD 1991 Harper Trophy soft cover, no printing given. Beautiful, historically accurate & detailed color illustrations - could have come right out of a Codex. Content: Two Flint knows no better place on earth than his beautiful Aztec city. But one day a hostile army appears outside the city walls. When Two Flint's father goes to talk peace with the enemy, he never returns. Only when the magic flame from Lord Morning Star's sacred light burns in the great Aztec temple can men live as brothers. But the journey to the great god's home is fraught with terrors. And the long road beyond the great city walls is ruled by nine evil demons of darkness. Two Flint knows he must be brave. But can he succeed where so many others have failed? [While the message of peace is an appropriate one for youngsters - recommended for ages 5 to 8 - I'm not convinced it is appropriate to the Aztec culture. However, it is a nice story and the illustrations will easily carry the text.] Questions welcome. [2 copies available]
$ 10.49 + # 2.99 meida shipping.

GOLDEN TALES: Myths, Legends and Folktales from Latin America
by Lulu Delacre. Wonderful color illustrations by the Author. Condition: NEW 2001 Scholastic soft cover, first printing. Very very light shelf wear. Content: Four cultures and 13 countries feature in this handsome volume. Each section begins with a brief description of the culture of origin and an appendix provides sources for the myths; the stories are embellished with oil paintings and traditional motifs. Ages 8-up. The principal strength of this collection is that it mingles traditional creation myths and ethnic folktales with stories that show the Spanish influence in the Caribbean and Mexico. The tales that come from Colombia and the areas encompassed by the Inca Empire are more traditional. An introduction gives background on the Taino, Zapotec, Muisca, and Inca civilizations. Each of the four sections, one for each group, begins with a one-page description of their histories. The type font is attractive, and the pages are open and easy to read. There are ample full-color illustrations of average quality for each story and a good map of Latin America that shows the areas each tribe inhabited. Excellent source notes and a good pronunciation guide round out the volume. Tales from the Incas to the Taino to El Dorado. All ages. Questions welcome. [2 copies available]
$ 5.19 + $ 2.99 media shipping.

HIDDEN WORLD OF THE AZTEC
by Peter Lourie. Beautiful color photos & Codes repros with some B&W photos. Condition: NEW 2006 Boyds Mills hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: This attractive book takes an objective look at the Aztecs from the perspective of archaeological digs at the Great Temple in modern-day Mexico City and at the Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacan. Nine highly pictorial chapters cover Aztec and Toltec history and the excavations that expand understanding of these civilizations. Lourie also outlines the process of archaeology and the methods used to uncover and preserve artifacts. A photo of a statue of the God of Death, buried in concrete, does much to illustrate the care taken to free such works of art from the medium in which they are imprisoned. The writing style is clear, informative, and interesting. The text features numerous observations made by archaeologist Leonardo López Luján, which are illuminating, especially concerning the blood sacrifice aspect of Aztec religion–exaggerated, he feels, by the Spaniards to justify their conquest. Verses of Aztec poetry begin each chapter, presenting a more rounded look at a complex and sophisticated society. This sound volume can be used with more conventional titles, such as Elaine Landau's Exploring the World of the Aztecs with Elaine Landau (Enslow, 2005), and is especially good for viewing a culture as it is re-created through excavation. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 10.00 + $ 2.99 media shipping.

HORRIBLE HISTORIES: THE INCREDIBLE INCAS
by Terry Deary. Great B&W comic illustrations by Philip Reeve. Condition: UNREAD 2000 Scholastic (London) Trade Paperback, 8th printing. Content: This book gives you the gory details about the Incan Empire, which ruled 12 million people but was smashed by 260 Spanish invaders. . .and a few germs. You can learn: why llamas wore earrings and drank beer; how a bucket of stewed pee can make you beautiful; why servants ate the emperor's hair. Read for gobsmacking facts on glittering golden temples and chilling child sacrifices. Predict your future with inflated llama lungs, find out how to please a 200-year-old mummy, and meet the ugliest emperor ever. What a great way to get youngsters interested in ancient Americas. Questions welcome. [2 copies available]
$ 6.49 + $ 2.99 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

HUAJATOLLA: Southern Colorado's Ancient Legends of the Land
written and illustrated by Kristen F. Naeyaert. B&W illustrations for coloring. Condition: NEW 2005 Earthwing (La Veta, Co) soft cover, no printing given. Content: Huajatolla is a Comanche word meaning "Breasts of the Earth" (Spanish Peaks). The mountain chain backing up to the Juajatolla is known as the Sangre de Christo which extend into Mexico. The wonderful symbolic drawings, along with the intriguing remnants of ancient stories, pull together a provocative interpretation of the Huajatolla legends. Includes legends from the Native American cultures to the Olmecs, Aztecs and Mayas to the gold seekers. Fascinating and very worthwhile book. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 5.49 + $ 2.99 media shipping

INCA LIFE
text by Sadddleback Publishing. Beautiful color photos and maps plus two-tone Poma drawings. Condition: NEW 2006 Saddleback soft cover, reissue. Content: This vast Andes Mountain empire in what is now Peru and northern Chile developed a sophisticated social system, architecture, cities with terraced gardens on mountain tops, agriculture, and trade routes. It was vanquished by the Spaniard Pizarro in 1532. The remains of some of its high mountain cities, for instance, Macchu Picchu, were not discovered until the early twentieth century. Questions welcome. [1 copy available.]
$ 4.69 + $ 2.99 media shipping.

THE LADY OF PALENQUE: Flower of Bacal (Mesoamerica, A.D. 749) [The Royal Diaries]
by Anna Kirwan. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 2004 Scholastic hardcover (pictorial boards), first printing. Name loose end page and gilt fore edge. Interior clean & tight. Content: This entry in the Royal Diaries series takes readers to 749 C.E. Mesoamerica. Thirteen-year-old princess ShahnaK'in Yaxchel Pacal is chosen to marry the King of Xuchpi (Copan). First, though, the spoiled princess faces a long journey to her new home, which, as it turns out, brings her face to face with everything from natural disasters to human enemies. The text is dense, and Kirwan's descriptive prose has an archaic flavor; readers may struggle with the vocabulary and transliterated names. What readers will like best is ShahnaK'in herself, an animated, independent character, whose commentary incorporates interesting details of Mayan culture (including descriptions of shrunken heads and body piercing that may make some readers shudder) as well as a sense of universal issues -- from homesickness to developing self-reliance. Supporting materials include historical background, a family tree, and notes Recommended for ages 9 - 12. [1 copy available]
$ 2.29 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

LOST TEMPLE OF THE AZTECS (I Was There series)
by Shelley Tanaka. Excellent, detailed, and historically accurate color illustrations by Greg Ruhl. Condition: NEW 1998 Hyperion/Madison soft cover, third printing. Tiny edge wear. Content: Using the discovery of the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan under the streets of Mexico City in 1978 as a starting point, Tanaka introduces readers to the world of the Aztecs at the time of the Spanish invasion. From this beginning, the readable text follows the fate of this capital city and its inhabitants until its fall and destruction in 1521?the death knell of an empire. Lavishly illustrated with full-color photos, period artwork, and dramatic full-page paintings, the book is handsome and eye-catching. It includes fictional dialogue and suppositions regarding emotional states, but purists may be comforted by the vetting of Professor Eduardo Matos Moctezuma, both a descendant of an Aztec ruler and the archaeologist in charge of the initial excavation of the Great Temple. Another comforting note indicates that, "The text...is largely based on Aztec accounts...." Sadly, there is no index (or table of contents) to simplify swift information retrieval. Still, this is a colorful, lively edition. [1 copy available]
$ 5.69 + $ 2.99 media shipping.

LOST WORLDS
by John Howe. Text and spectacular color illustrations by the Author. Condition: NEW 2009 Kingfisher hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ issued), first printing. Content: This is just visually spectacular - from the decorated end pages to the artwork for each "lost world." Don't buy into the Lord of the Rings connection - this is really history & myth woven together for some entries (King Arthur) to real archaeological sites (Troy). Fabulous! A large, clear lens embedded in the front cover of this far-ranging browsing title invites readers to step through to a series of quick stops at over two dozen vanished cultures. In no particular order and freely mixing history with myth, Howe slips from the Garden of Eden to Pompeii, Atlantis to Cahokia, Babylon to Faerie, pausing for one to three pages of general remarks about what each was or might have been like, then moving on. He closes with a section of even shorter notes on 35 more real or storied sites. Bringing his experience as a concept artist for the filmed Lord of the Rings (Gandalf—er, Ian McKellan even provides an introduction) to bear, he depicts each featured locale at its height with handsome, dramatic painted tableaux and expert pencil sketches. The new world entries are Cahokia, Cibola, Rapa Nui, and Teotihuacan. Grade school to Adults will love this book. [2 copies available]
$ 8.69 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

MESSAGES ON STONE; Selections of Native Western Rock Art
by William Michael Stokes & William Lee Stokes. B&W drawings illustrate. Condition: NEW 1997 Sandstone Publishing (Utah) soft cover, 14th printing. Content: From the thousands of objects and symbols the authors and others have observed, they have assembled a number of groups with meanings that are relatively clear. These groups are presented alphabetically (Apparal, Fun & Games, Hunting, etc.) with brief comments in the following pages. An excellent primer for petroglyphs, rock art, and/or pictographs. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 4.99 + $ 3.19 meida shipping.

MONTEZUMA AND THE AZTECS (W5 series)
by Mathilde Helly and Remi Courgeon. Wonderful color Codex repros with color photos & detailed drawings. A few B&W reproductions. Condition: UNREAD, but perused, 1996 Henry Holt large hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), firist printing. Content: This book clarifies the differences between Aztec, Mayan, and Inca civilizations, and then discusses Aztec culture, the significance of human sacrifice, the relationships among neighboring towns, European explorers, and Montezuma. Grades 7 and up. Excellent for school libraries and homeschooling. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 8.49 + $ 2.99 media shipping.

MYSTERIES OF THE MAYA (Exhibition Book)
text by Sara Otto-Diniz. Great B&W illustrations by Katharina Zawadzkas. Maya Temple Game by Constance Green. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect (small smudge front cover under black border), c. 1987 paperback (stapled wraps), exhibition book. Content: Geared to kids and their teachers, the book covers all facets of Maya life plus a Mayan Temple game. Even though the book is older, the selections are still very true to Mayan history. Perfect for home schooling. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 5.00 + $ 2.94 media shipping.

NIGHT DANCER: Mythical Piper of the Native American Southwest
by Marcia Vaughan. Beautifully illustrated in Southwestern night colors by Lisa Desimini. Condition: Gently pre-read, if at all, 2002 Orchard Books haradcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, first printing. It is an ex-school library book with only 2-3 markings. Content: Introducing the mythical Kokopelli, Vaughan takes readers on an exhilarating moonlit dance amid luminescent desert arroyos, canyons and cacti. Here the supernatural songman of Native American legend, whom the author calls "the pied piper of the Rio Grande," leads a parade of desert creatures across spreads bathed in the indigo and purple hues of night. Desimini's computer-enhanced mixed-media art features ribbons of shimmery, pastel light to represent the music that streams from Kokopelli's flute. As he beckons, captivated desert animals fall in one by one to dance behind him, all of them standing upright as if human. Kokopelli's playful, rhythmic refrain calls Coyote, Snake, Tortoise, Javelina, Jackrabbit, Tarantula and, finally, the children of the pueblo; each verse's second line changes to foreshadow the next animal to join in. Desimini's keen use of color and light effects a dreamlike, movie stills quality. Hot pink cactus flowers and a brilliant full moon add an electric spark to the shadowy nocturnal palette. An author's note explores the importance of Kokopelli among the Hopi, Zuni and Pueblo peoples. Ages 3-7 +. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 4.75 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

THE OLD ONES: A Children's Book About the Cliff Dwellers (Anasazi)
text & B&W photos by Brian Freeman and Jodi Freeman. Excellent B&W drawings by Terry Flanagan. Condition: UNREAD 1997 Think Shop trade paperback, 3rd edition. Light shelf wear - cover color is weak. Content: This is a book about the Anssazi (also known as The Cliff Dwellers) who inhabited the Southwestern states in prehistory. While this book states that Anasazi is a Navajo word for "Old Ones," I have always heard that the word means "the Old Ones who are our enemies." This is an excellent intro for youngsters to these tribes. Ages 7 +. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 4.69 + $ 2.99 media shipping.

Easy-to-Make PUEBLO VILLAGE
by A.G. Smith and Josie Hazen. Full-color "pieces." Condition: UNREAD c. 1992 Dover soft cover, no printing given. Content: Only scissors and glue are needed to assemble this colorful scale model of an Indian village of the Southwest. Several dwellings plus 2-sided free-standing figures of Indian villagers engaged in day-to-day activities, games and rituals. Ideal for play fun at home or as a classroom project offering hours of educational entertainment. 6 full-color plates. Each piece has it's placement printed on it. Detailed instructions inside front cover. Perfect for homeschooling. Ages 7 +. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 4.75 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

RAIN PLAYER
story & art by David Wisniewski. Wonderful, vivid color illustrations. Historically accurate. Condition: NEW 1999 Clarion soft cover, 10th printing. Light edge wear. Content: Wisniewski's latest, inspired by ancient Mayan culture, takes full advantage of his penchant for original folktales rooted firmly in well-researched fact. This interest, together with his instantly recognizable cut-paper artwork (vibrantly colored, its dramatic lighting and photography result in sharply three-dimensional images), have helped him carve a niche in the picture book realm. Here, a boy named Pik challenges Chac, the god of rain, to a game of "pok-a-tok"--a cross between soccer and basketball--in order to avert a foretold drought that would devastate his people. Pik's father gives him three talismans to help in the play-off against the fierce sky god, and with their aid the boy is victorious. It's a satisfying tale, and Pik--a sort of Magic Johnson of the Yucatan--is the kind of impetuous hero with whom young readers will enjoy identifying. Ages 5-9. Questions welcome. [2 copies available]
$ 4.79 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

RUNNER FOR THE KING
by Rowena Bastin Bennett. Wonderful, historically accurate sepia-tone illustrations by Fiore Mastri. Condition: This is an ex-library book with all markings. It appears to have never been checked out, but there are small problems of an old book, i.e., a couple of fingerprints. 1944-45 Follett Publishing hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ, library edition), no printing given. Content: This is the story of Roca, a chasqui or "runner" in the Inca Empire. One day he has an emergency message for the Emperor stating the impending invasion of the Empire by Amazon tribes. Roca has to run the last 2 long legs of the journey due to the illness of his friend who usually runs the last "lap." He does make it in time for the army to repel the invasion and is rewarded by the Emperor. Why Ms. Bennett chose to call the Inca Emperor the "king" is a mystery to me, but the story is solidly based on history. Very good intro to the Incas for youngsters. Ages 9+. Questions welcome and answered. [1 copy available]
$ 7.69 + $ 2.99 media shipping.

SONGS FOR SURVIVAL: Songs and Chants From Tribal Peoples Around the World
compiled by Nikki Siegen-Smith. Wonderful, colorful illustrations by Bernard Lodge. Condition: NEW 1996 Dutton hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing, American edition. Tiny edge wear to DJ edges. Content: This anthology of songs and chants from the tribal peoples of six continents may exert its strongest appeal to elementary school teachers looking for supplemental texts about tribal cultures. The entries are divided into songs about "beginnings," those that venerate the "living world," those that discuss the elements and those that celebrate survival. Siegen-Smith samples an impressive range of sources; there are a dozen peoples from Africa alone. Lodge, meanwhile, works in a unified style, supplying lino-cuts that seem generally primitivist but are specific to no one culture. A repeated line of tiny figures dances across the bottom of each page while individual prints, faintly reminiscent of cave art or museum artifacts, embellish given songs. An entry grouped under "The Living World," for example, a children's game from Thailand - "Crocodile! Crocodile!... You can't bite us!" - is illustrated with a design of bright yellow and green outlined in black, in the shape of a river crocodile, while a footnote explains the riverside game of tag that the chant typically accompanies. The volume includes an introduction and appendix written by Stephen Corry, director of Survival International- to which proceeds from the original sale of the book was donated - that discusses the importance of songs in all cultures and the location and customs of various tribal groups. There are many entries from the North Aemrican Tribes (including the Inuit) and the ancient American civilizations (Aztec, Maya) as well. Excellent book!!! Ages 8-up. [1 copy available]
$ 5.79 + $ 3.39 media shipping.

STEP INTO THE WORLD OF ANCIENT MIDDLE AMERICA
edited by Gary Burns. Full-color illustrations and photos. Condition: NEW 2009 Flowerpot Press hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ issued), no printing given. Content: Aimed at elementary school children, this colorful book details The First Peoples; Culture and Civilizations; Daily Life; Religions and Beliefs; Customs and Society; Architecture; and Games and Entertainment. Perfect for younger children with shorter attention spans. Homeschooling delight. Questions welcome. [2 copies available]
$ 4.00 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

STEP INTO THE INCA WORLD
by Philip Steele. Consultant Dr. Penny Dransart. Beutiful color photos of artifacts and detailed color "hot-to" photos. Condition: NEW 2000 Hermes House large soft cover [11.4 x 8.8 x 0.5 (64 Pages)], first printing. Content: Step back in time to discover the spectacular world of the Incas and their ancestors. Successors to the Chimu gold workers and the Tiwanaku lake people, the Incas ruled the most spectacular empire South America has ever seen. The land of the Sun God was bright with many treasures houses of gold, the most fabulous clothes and huge stone buildings. This book uncovers the secrets of the mummy bundles, the mystery of the giant lines in the Nazca desert and the intricate rope bridges high in the Andes Mountains. Projects actively involve the reader in understanding the past: make a reed boat that really floats, create an Inca drum and design a tunic fit for an emperor. Ages 9 - 12. Excellent for homeschooling, also. Questions welcome. [2 copies available]
$ 8.89 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

TEMPLE OF THE SUN: A Boy Fights for Montezuma
by Evelyn Sibley Lampman. Wonderful B&W drawings by Lili Rethi. Condition: Good only but UNREAD, but not perfect, 1964 Doubleday ex-library hard cover (missing DJ), first edition. Description of content from DJ pasted inside front cover. Typical library markings and check-out pocket loose end page. Content: "The gates were swung open, and through them poured a great horde of Spanish soldiers. As he looked at them, Chimal felt himself grow cold with terror . . ." Thus did Chimal, a 12-year-old Aztec boy, begin a year of horror and heartache - a year in which his ears heard the cries of the dying, his hungry body ached from fearsome hand-to-hand combat, and his eyes were trained in the terrible art of spying on an awesome enemy. This is the story of the fight waged by Chimal and his friends to protect themselves, their Emperor, their city (Tenochtotlan), and their way of life. This is the story of Cortez and the brutal Spanish invasion of the Aztec Empire. Yes, the book is old, but tell your kids that is ok for them to read a book they can actually hold in their hands - LOL. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 4.00 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

WHEN CLAY SINGS (Caldecott Honor Book)
by Byrd Baylor. Color drawings by Tom Bahti. Condition: NEW 1979 Aladdin soft cover edition, 15th printing (c. 1998-99). Content: Pieces of broken pots are scattered over the desert hillsides of the Southwest. The Indians there treat them with respect -- "Every piece of clay is a piece of someone's life," they say. And the children try to imagine those lives that took place in the desert they think of as their own. Clay has its own small voice, and sings. Its song has lasted for thousands of years. And Byrd Baylor's prose-poem as simple and powerful as the clay pots, sings too. [Wonderful book!] Ages 4 - 8, but adults will like it also. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 4.39 + $ 3.09 media shipping

ANASAZI GIRL BOOKPLATES
art by Cathy Lowmiller. This is from a book by Ms. Lowmiller entitled Chana, An Anasazi Girl (see below). [Note: If Ms. Lowmiller ever sees this, I wish you would contact me.] Condition: NEW package of 12 bookplates made by pacaritambo books. The peel-off label stock is heavier than most bookplate materials and is matte and not glossy. They are as perfect as possible, and we feel the subject matter is much different than you can get anywhere else. 3.3" H x 3.4" W. We can personalize your bookplate (the font is Kids) - just email us the name. Any questions, click here to email us. Content: Chana sits in the beautiful ancient Anasazi homeland in the American Southwest.
$ 4.00 + $ 2.85 first class shipping.

KOKOPELLI DANCING BOOKPLATES
art by V. Protsak. Condition: NEW package of 12 bookplates made by pacaritambo books. The peel-off label stock is heavier than most bookplate materials and is matte and not glossy. They are as perfect as possible, and we feel the subject matter is much different than you can get anywhere else. 3.1" W x 4.0" H. We can personalize your bookplate (the font is BinnerD) - just email us the name. Any questions, click here to email us. Content: Kokopelli is most likely the most famous of all the ancient American petroglyphs. "Kokopelli is a fertility deity, usually depicted as a humpbacked flute player (often with a huge phallus and feathers or antenna-like protrusions on his head), who has been venerated by some Native American cultures in the Southwestern United States. Like most fertility deities, Kokopelli presides over both childbirth and agriculture. He is also a trickster god and represents the spirit of music." (Wikipedia)
$ 4.00 + $ 2.85 first class shipping. International shipping available.