School Library Journal
**STARRED REVIEW**
"Once again Tonatiuh has gathered history, language, and stories into a cultural gift to readers; an excellent book for students who want to learn how books are made, those who love history (even the difficult parts), and anyone interested in learning about Mexihcah culture."
Kirkus Reviews
**STARRED REVIEW**
"Tonatiuh’s respect and reverence for the subject shine through loud and clear as he shares knowledge of Mesoamerican books almost lost to the past. . .Utterly indispensable."
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
**STARRED REVIEW**
"A loving and layered examination of culture, values, and the stories that shape them."
Booklist
"Acclaimed author and illustrator Tonatiuh’s signature pre-Columbian illustrations are striking and alive with color, pattern and texture. A detailed author’s note, glossary (with pronunciation guide), and bibliography round out this robust resource."
The Horn Book
**STARRED REVIEW**
"An author’s note provides historical context, centering the importance of preserving Indigenous art . . . storytelling, and knowledge."
Publishers Weekly
**STARRED REVIEW**
"In Tonatiuh’s engaging picture book, a Mexihcah child describes intricate wordless volumes created in Mesoamerica before the arrival of Europeans, interweaving Nahuatl words defined in a glossary. . . all shown in richly hued art that mimics the codices’ detailed format, and leading to a contextualizing author’s note that describes colonizing forces’ devastating effect."
From the Publisher
**STARRED REVIEW**
"Tonatiuh’s respect and reverence for the subject shine through loud and clear as he shares knowledge of Mesoamerican books almost lost to the past. . .Utterly indispensable."—Kirkus Reviews
**STARRED REVIEW**
"In Tonatiuh’s engaging picture book, a Mexihcah child describes intricate wordless volumes created in Mesoamerica before the arrival of Europeans, interweaving Nahuatl words defined in a glossary. . . all shown in richly hued art that mimics the codices’ detailed format, and leading to a contextualizing author’s note that describes colonizing forces’ devastating effect." —Publishers Weekly
**STARRED REVIEW**
"Once again Tonatiuh has gathered history, language, and stories into a cultural gift to readers; an excellent book for students who want to learn how books are made, those who love history (even the difficult parts), and anyone interested in learning about Mexihcah culture."—School Library Journal
**STARRED REVIEW**
"A loving and layered examination of culture, values, and the stories that shape them."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
**STARRED REVIEW**
"An author’s note provides historical context, centering the importance of preserving Indigenous art . . . storytelling, and knowledge." —The Horn Book
"Acclaimed author and illustrator Tonatiuh’s signature pre-Columbian illustrations are striking and alive with color, pattern and texture. A detailed author’s note, glossary (with pronunciation guide), and bibliography round out this robust resource."—Booklist
Horn Book (starred review)
“An author’s note provides historical context, centering the importance of preserving Indigenous art…storytelling, and knowledge.”
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“A loving and layered examination of culture, values, and the stories that shape them.”
AudioFile
“Carolina Hoyos expertly and lovingly narrates this astounding audiobook…Hoyos narrates clearly, especially the words in Nahuatl, which is impressive. Hoyos’s narration brings warmth to this story…Gentle sound effects and soft music are present throughout the production, enhancing the listening experience. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2022-08-02
Explore how intricate storytelling and painted books arose in Mesoamerica before the arrival of the Europeans.
Told from the perspective of a child speaking to a brother, this trip through Mesoamerican bookmaking begins with a summoning: “Our world, my brother, is an amoxtlalpan”—a “land of books.” There are nods to other Mesoamerican civilizations—the Chontaltin, the Mixtecah—before the narrator proclaims, “And we, the mighty Mexihcah who dwell in the valley of the volcanoes, make books too.” From there, readers follow along through a breakdown of how the Mexihcah (referred to as Aztecs in English) created books. The child explains how their parents, tlahcuilohqueh (“painters of words”), work in the amoxcalli (“house of books”). Tonatiuh deftly outlines the lengthy processes devoted to the creation of the multipaged, colorfully rendered amoxtin, from decorating book covers with feathers and precious stones to making paint out of insects. Tonatiuh probes deeper into Mexihcah culture as the narrator discusses education, literacy, and religion, describing how the four Tezcatlipocah, or gods, created the world and the god Blue Hummingbird sparked a great migration. Throughout each shift in focus, Tonatiuh’s respect and reverence for the subject shine through loud and clear as he shares knowledge of Mesoamerican books almost lost to the past (a detailed author's note states that, following the Spanish conquest, many of the books were destroyed). As always, the author/illustrator brilliantly conveys emotions and atmosphere with his colorful visuals—an inspired offspring of pre-Columbian art. A glossary defines the Nahuatl words used throughout. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Utterly indispensable. (bibliography, websites) (Informational picture book. 5-10)
