Back in the earliest memories of the world, the God of the Night ruled the skies, but his reign as sun was ended by the jealousy of the God of the Wind. The ancient gods’ struggle for supremacy raged for ages, until the creation, by sacrifice of the fifth and final sun. “An unusual book that should do much to illuminate the legends of an important ancient culture.” — Kirkus Reviews
Myths and Legends
The Sad Night: The Story Of An Aztec Victory And A Spanish Loss
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An account of the establishment of the Aztec empire in Mexico and of the terrible battle between the Aztecs and the Spaniards known as the Sad Night, of La Noche Triste.
“This sensitive treatment of La Noche Triste, or The Sad Night, the last battle the Aztecs won against the Spaniards, is a highly effective melding of graceful, lucid text and stylized art. Designed to resemble Aztec codices, the illustrations appear in double-page strips above the bordered text. Beginning with the Aztec migration to Tenochtitlán (now Mexico City), the history of this people is traced through their final conquest by Cortés’s forces…. This title has the distinction of combining myth with historical fact in a particularly successful manner. An engaging introduction to Mexican history.” —School Library Journal
The Aztecs (Myths Of The World)
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“A retelling of several key Aztec myths, with background information describing the history, geography, belief systems, and customs of the Aztecs”–Provided by publisher.
The Mythology Of Mexico And Central America
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Discusses the mythology from Indians of various regions of Mexico and Central America, describing origins, comparing the similar tales, and presenting some of the myths themselves.
Cuckoo
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A traditional Mayan tale which reveals how the cuckoo lost her beautiful feathers.
Daughter of Earth: A Roman Myth
Alone in a meadow one day, Proserpina is happily gathering flowers for her mother when she spies a blossom more beautiful than any she has ever seen. Moments later, she is gone–kidnapped by Pluto, lord of the Underworld, who wants to make her his bride. Sorrowing, Cres wanders her domain, searching for her lost child. At last, in a burst of wrath, she vows to turn the earth into a wasteland unless Proserpina is returned to her.
Young Zeus
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This is the story of how young Zeus, with a little help from six monsters, five Greek gods, an enchanted she-goat, and his mother, became god of gods, master of lightning and thunder, and ruler over all. in doing so, he learned a lot about family. Who knew that having relatives could be so complicated, even for a god? Brian Karas says about his inspiration for this book, “I’ve been interested in working with myths, but I felt as though I needed a personal connection. I am of Italian and Greek descent so I started to think of my Greek heritage. But the world of Greek mythology was unknown to me and in a way felt inaccessible, until I learned more. The Greek believed their gods and goddesses to be, among other things, very human-like in their emotions and behavior. They had complicated family relations. They were flawed on many levels – they could be petty, impulsive and unreasonable. I started to recognize them. Then I travelled to Greece, I knew this place! This personal connection gave me what I felt I needed to work with a Greek myth. But which? “I am also interested in the beginnings of things. When I started researching I kept looking for the ultimate source, the very first account, and largely drew from Hesiod’s Thegony. Being interested in origins, I was also drawn to the Greek’s version of the very beginning of things and it was here that I settled on the story of Zeus. There is much written about his reign as ruler of heaven and earth but very little about his youth and rise to power. The story of how his mother hid him on the island of Crete is a familiar one but there was a big gap in everything I read of what happened in between his life as an infant and his glory days. Young Zeus is my account of how things might have gone for young Zeus and what led him to become the omnipotent almighty god that he was believed to be.”
Dreamtime: Aboriginal Stories
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An Australian Aboriginal writer reminisces about her childhood on Stradbrooke Island off the Queensland coast, communicates her pride in her heritage, and presents a collection of traditional Aboriginal folklore.
Arrow To the Sun 30th Anniversary Edition
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Viking is proud to announce a special 30th anniversary hardcover edition of Arrow to the Sun, Gerald McDermott’s powerful rendering of an ancient Pueblo Indian legend. A true classic that has taken its place in the pantheon of children’s literature, this book vividly evokes the Native American reverence for the source of all life–the Solar Fire. Acclaimed for its bold and vibrant illustrations, Arrow to the Sun was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1975.
The Great Snake: Stories From The Amazon
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As the Rio Afuá ferry wends its way along the Amazon, Sean Taylor takes in not only the sights and sounds of this extraordinary landscape but also the stories of the people he meets. From sly jaguars and the slowest of sloths to spine-tingling giant serpents and white-suited strangers, his retellings teem with legendary beings, vivid color, earthy comedy, and the mysteries of the rainforest. Together, with Fernando Vilela’s dramatic, color-saturated illustrations, they reveal the Amazon peoples’ beliefs and way of life. Notes and a glossary provide additional information about the region.