(2) K-3 Translated by Elisa Amado . Illustrated by Santiago Solís Montes de Oca. Aztec emperor Montezuma is having a bad day in this playful take on Mesoamerican history and mythology. His court can't cheer him up with "a beautiful suit of armor," "a headdress made of a thousand feathers," sacrifices, or dancing. His snake-like helper tries to convince Montezuma to complete his duties and eventually gets fed up: "You are in an even worse mood than Quetzalcóatl, the plumed serpent." The only thing that soothes the angry emperor is an elaborately prepared gourd of hot chocolate. Feeling better, Montezuma declares, "Chocolate for all because it gladdens the heart!" Lively digital illustrations with hand-drawn textures in pinks, oranges, and teals depict the pouty emperor and the human and animal members of his court as mostly friendly (details such as the animal sacrifices are lightly alluded to). The appended glossary includes words in English, Spanish, and Náhuatl and mentions some similarities between the Aztec and Mayan cultures. It also acknowledges both the attacks by Spanish missionaries on the Aztecs and the preservation of Aztec culture through language and -- of course -- hot chocolate.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2025

(3) YA In this dense but readable anthology of captivating tales from pre-Columbian Mexico, a variety of creation and origin myths are ordered chronologically to share a narrative history of the world from the Aztec and Maya perspectives. Background information is provided in the introduction. Add this title to collections of myths from around the world. Pronunciation guide included. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(4) 4-6 Lowriders series. Illustrated by Raúl the Third. In the second graphic novel, Lupe, Elirio, and El Chavo Flapjack set out in their magical lowrider to find their cat and meet mythological characters such as La Llorona, the Chupacabra, and an angry Aztec god. Energetic pen drawings keep the story hopping even when the plot feels somewhat disjointed. The frequent Spanish expressions are translated on each page. Glos.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(3) YA In a witty voice, fifteen-year-old Odilia Garza recounts how she and her four younger sisters discover a corpse in a river near their Texas home and return him to his Mexican family across the border. Magical realism is introduced through several Mexican mythological characters who both challenge and help the girls on their Odyssey-like journey in this story of sisterly love. Glos.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) 4-6 World of Mythology series. This series provides a glimpse at mythologies of ancient cultures from around the world. After a short introduction to the specific civilization, various gods and heroes are presented. Each deity is given a short section, so only the most cursory treatment is provided. Reproductions of ancient artwork as well as modern illustrations provide colorful portraits of the featured gods. Glos., ind. Review covers these World of Mythology titles: Indian Mythology, Japanese Mythology, Mayan and Aztec Mythology, and Middle Eastern Mythology.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Mythology Rocks! series. Each of these volumes (revised and with slightly different titles--without "Rocks!") begins with a brief introduction to the title culture. Several myths important to that culture follow; a short question-and-answer section, along with "expert commentary," appears after each story. Stippled illustrations break up the dense texts but otherwise don't add much. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Mythology Rocks! titles: African Mythology Rocks!, Celtic Mythology Rocks!, Chinese Mythology Rocks!, Gods and Goddesses in Greek Mythology Rock!, Maya and Aztec Mythology Rocks!, and Heroes in Greek Mythology Rock!

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Mythic World series. Each book in this series is divided into ten chapters; each chapter presents a myth along with historical context and related information about such topics as language, religion, and lifestyle. As a whole, the presentation is rather unexciting; but archival reproductions, illustrations, and photographs enhance the text and add interest. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Mythic World titles: Myths of Pre-Columbian America, Myths of the Native Americans, Myths of Ancient Greece, Myths of Ancient Rome.]

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg