(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

(2) 4-6 Tales of the Feathered Serpent series. Illustrated by Charlene Bowles. This follow-up to Rise of the Halfling King (rev. 11/20) tells the story -- again in graphic-novel form -- of Mayan demigod twins Hunahpu and Xbalanke, sons of demigods One Hunahpu and Lady Blood, a royal ruler of Xibalba (the Underworld), "the only good and lovely creature in that place." Wooed by the trapped soul of One Hunahpu, Lady Blood leaves Xibalba to give birth in the Overworld. From the start, her sons are forced to compete with their older twin half-brothers for the attention of their grandmother, the goddess of the cornfields. With the encouragement of Lady Blood to achieve their "destiny" to rescue their father and uncle from Xibalba, the younger twins concoct a musical plan to trick their older brothers and get them out of the way for a bit. Straightforward and humorous language paired with clear, eye-catching comics-style illustrations make this an engaging retelling of a selection from the Mayan Popol Vuh. An appended author's note further explains the origin of the story and inspiration for the series, and a list of characters in the opening pages is helpful for navigating the tale. A Spanish edition, Los héroes gemelos y la magia de la canción, will be published in spring 2025.

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

(3) 4-6 Case File 13 series. Visiting an archaeological site, "Monsterteers" Nick, Angelo, and Carter hope to uncover evidence that aliens built the Mayan pyramids. Instead, they encounter a power-hungry archaeologist; a series of Indiana Jones–esque tests and traps; and mummies, deities, and demons of Mayan myth. A fast pace, silly humor, and suspenseful problem-solving make this fourth entry another more-wacky-than-scary supernatural adventure. An appended note gives context.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) 4-6 Treasury of Glorious Goddesses series. Illustrated by Shirin Yim Bridges. In each novel, a goddess relates her story, enhanced with details from her culture of origin and her (imagined) motivations. Back matter adds historical context and dim black-and-white artifact photos, while a chart separates myth from fiction. Though the choice to voice the goddesses with a shallow tween giddiness may exclude some readers, others will find this an easy entry point to mythology. Bib., glos. $ Review Covers these Treasure of Glorious Goddesses titles: Call Me Athena, Call me Ixchel, Call me Isis

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(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