This Miskito Indian legend set in seventeenth-century Nicaragua illustrates the impact of the first European traders on traditional life.
Central America
The Incas (Worlds Of The Past)
Surveys the civilization, history, and culture of the Incas, including studies of their government, religion, family life, agriculture, and architecture.
Middleworld
When his archaeologist parents go missing in Central America, 14-year-old Max embarks on a wild adventure through the Mayan underworld in search of the legendary Jaguar Stones, which enabled ancient Mayan kings to wield the powers of living gods. Includes cast of characters, glossary, facts about the Maya cosmos and calendar, and a recipe for chicken tamales.
The Mouse Bride
A mother and father mouse search for the perfect husband for their beautiful daughter.
Wanderlove
Bria, an aspiring artist just graduated from high school, takes off for Central America’s La Ruta Maya, rediscovering her talents and finding love.
Marisol and the Yellow Messenger
Marisol learns about identity, loss, and the continuation of love and hope after her father is killed and her family must move north from Latin America, but through dreams she discovers her father’s presence, but in a different way than before.
The Umbrella
A walk through the Costa Rican cloud forest provides a wonderfully lush setting for Jan Brett’s beloved animal illustrations. When Carlos drops his umbrella to climb a tree for a better view of the animals, they all cram into the banana-leaf umbrella as it floats by–from the little tree frog to the baby tapir to the big jaguar and more. It gets so crowded in the umbrella that there isn’t even enough room for a little hummingbird! So over the umbrella tumbles, everyone falls out, and poor Carlos comes back wondering why he didn’t see any animals all day.
In the spirit of Jan Brett’s The Mitten and The Hat, this cheerful tale of escalation will have readers poring over every illustration for the world of details Jan packs in. With its classic story, exotic jungle setting, and brilliantly colorful menagerie, The Umbrella is sure to take its place among Jan’s many family favorites.
The Bravest Flute: A Story Of Courage In The Mayan Tradition
The Caldecott Honor-winning author of The Village of Round and Square Houses offers an inspirational tale, featuring her own exuberant illustrations, about a brave Mayan boy who leads his village’s New Year’s Day parade, even though he is weak and hungry.
The Fifth And Final Sun: An Ancient Aztec Myth Of The Sun’s Origin
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
The Gold Coin
Juan has been a thief for many years. So when he peeks through a crack in Doã Josef´s door and sees a gold coin in her hand, he immediately decides to steal her treasure. Stealing it, however, is not as easy as Juan had thought, and soon he is traveling around the countryside, trying to catch up with the old woman and her gold. But as this original tale with a Central American setting shows, there are other, human kinds of treasure waiting to be discovered.