A Land of Books

Starred review from October 17, 2022
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: “Our parents are tlahcuilohqueh, painters of words. The amoxtin they make tell the stories of our gods, our history, our people.” Riveting spreads detail the objects’ format and make, ample studies behind their content and symbology (“religion, astronomy, warfare, and history”), as well as social norms around their reading, by “only noblemen, priests, and wise elders.” Through a dream sequence, subsequent pages delve into the books’ rich contents, including central deities and methods of governance, calendaring, and healing, 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. Ages 4–8.

October 15, 2022
Grades 1-4 A young Mexihcah (Aztec) girl speaks to her brother about the importance of language, storytelling, and cultural traditions in this narrative nonfiction picture book. Throughout the child's eloquent elucidations, Nahuatl words are seamlessly interwoven: "Our parents are tlahcuilohqueh, painters of words. The amoxtin they make tell the stories of our gods, our history, our people. They work with others at the amoxcalli, the house of books." The bookmaking process is described, from creating paper pulp from amacuahuitl tree bark and limestone to deriving colorful natural dyes from plants and insects. The poised, first-person narration highlights and honors the Indigenous knowledge and teachings passed down in the beautiful painted manuscripts and speaks to a vital continuity: "One day, my brother, we will be painters of words too." 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. A notable introduction to Indigenous Mesoamerican codices and culture.

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Starred review from November 1, 2022

Gr 2-5-A young girl tells her brother the story of the tlahcuilohqueh, painters of words. She slowly tells her brother all about the stories they make, what happens to them, and the pride of her family in doing this job. Tonatiuh has created a story that blends cultures and historical facts into words students will understand. The mix of English and Spanish comprise a simple vocabulary aided by a glossary at the end which facilitates bilingual readers and learners alike. The spare text on each page is very visible against the fantastic illustrations. Tonatiuh continues to create beautiful depictions of his heritage, with each illustration showing exactly what the text addresses, and making certain parts of the Mexihcah book process much clearer. The simple details of his drawings are amazing; at the end of the book, readers will understand just how authentically the illustrations hew to actual pictures of the handful of remaining codices. An author's note at the end also serves as a history, going into the dark time of colonization and how his culture, and the books of his people, have been harshly impacted. VERDICT 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.-Margaret Kennelly

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from January 1, 2023
With his signature illustrations that draw from Mesoamerican codex pictographic aesthetics, Tonatiuh introduces a picture-book audience to the role that bookmaking played in ancient Mexihcah culture and cosmology. "Our parents are tlahcuilohqueh, painters of words," explains the young narrator to her brother. She describes their bookmaking process, and a series of double-page spreads shows how organic materials -- such as "the bark of the amacuahuitl tree" for the amatl (paper) and "plants, animals, and rocks" for dyes and drawings -- are used to create the amoxtin, or wood-covered and decorated accordion-style books made of "long strips of paper with multiple page folds." Mastery in painting and sculpture, as well as philosophical, scientific, humanistic, and spiritual understandings of the world and life upon it, were also required; and Tonatiuh makes clear connections to illustrate how Mesoamerica was an amoxtlalpan, meaning "land of books." The girl also explains to her brother that "noblemen, priests, and wise elders" played important roles in interpreting the complex images, symbols, and designs of the amoxtin, which they would sing and perform for others to "hear the words and admire the images." An author's note provides historical context, centering the importance of preserving Indigenous art ("Sadly, of the thousands -- perhaps hundreds of thousands -- of books that were made in Mesoamerica before the Spanish arrived in the 1500s, only fifteen survive"), storytelling, and knowledge. A helpful pronunciation guide/glossary for the Nahuatl words used in the text and a robust bibliography are appended. Lettycia Terrones

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2023
With his signature illustrations that draw from Mesoamerican codex pictographic aesthetics, Tonatiuh introduces a picture-book audience to the role that bookmaking played in ancient Mexihcah culture and cosmology. "Our parents are tlahcuilohqueh, painters of words," explains the young narrator to her brother. She describes their bookmaking process, and a series of double-page spreads shows how organic materials -- such as "the bark of the amacuahuitl tree" for the amatl (paper) and "plants, animals, and rocks" for dyes and drawings -- are used to create the amoxtin, or wood-covered and decorated accordion-style books made of "long strips of paper with multiple page folds." Mastery in painting and sculpture, as well as philosophical, scientific, humanistic, and spiritual understandings of the world and life upon it, were also required; and Tonatiuh makes clear connections to illustrate how Mesoamerica was an amoxtlalpan, meaning "land of books." The girl also explains to her brother that "noblemen, priests, and wise elders" played important roles in interpreting the complex images, symbols, and designs of the amoxtin, which they would sing and perform for others to "hear the words and admire the images." An author's note provides historical context, centering the importance of preserving Indigenous art ("Sadly, of the thousands -- perhaps hundreds of thousands -- of books that were made in Mesoamerica before the Spanish arrived in the 1500s, only fifteen survive"), storytelling, and knowledge. A helpful pronunciation guide/glossary for the Nahuatl words used in the text and a robust bibliography are appended. Lettycia Terrones

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from August 15, 2022
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)

COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2023
With his signature illustrations that draw from Mesoamerican codex pictographic aesthetics, Tonatiuh introduces a picture-book audience to the role that bookmaking played in ancient Mexihcah culture and cosmology. "Our parents are tlahcuilohqueh, painters of words," explains the young narrator to her brother. She describes their bookmaking process, and a series of double-page spreads shows how organic materials -- such as "the bark of the amacuahuitl tree" for the amatl (paper) and "plants, animals, and rocks" for dyes and drawings -- are used to create the amoxtin, or wood-covered and decorated accordion-style books made of "long strips of paper with multiple page folds." Mastery in painting and sculpture, as well as philosophical, scientific, humanistic, and spiritual understandings of the world and life upon it, were also required; and Tonatiuh makes clear connections to illustrate how Mesoamerica was an amoxtlalpan, meaning "land of books." The girl also explains to her brother that "noblemen, priests, and wise elders" played important roles in interpreting the complex images, symbols, and designs of the amoxtin, which they would sing and perform for others to "hear the words and admire the images." An author's note provides historical context, centering the importance of preserving Indigenous art ("Sadly, of the thousands -- perhaps hundreds of thousands -- of books that were made in Mesoamerica before the Spanish arrived in the 1500s, only fifteen survive"), storytelling, and knowledge. A helpful pronunciation guide/glossary for the Nahuatl words used in the text and a robust bibliography are appended.

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)