(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Sarah Jane English. As much a story of Maya culture as it is of the discovery of the hieroglyphs and their eventual deciphering, this book contains copious illustrations, codes for children to work out, and games. Though the format is attractive and the information difficult to find elsewhere, the text is not always clear. The glossary is not especially child-friendly and could have used pronunciation hints (as could the book throughout). Endpapers with embossed glyphs for secret writing are a plus. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow