Tikal

December 15, 2002
Gr. 4-8. This latest addition to the Wonders of the World series conveys the current understanding of the history of Tikal, a major city in the Mayan Empire between 800 B.C.E and 900 C.E. The author explains why the settlers chose the place; how the location (along the most passable trade route through Mesoamerica) factored into its success; and what is known about the people who lived there. Mann's narrative flows smoothly, and frequent, full-color illustrations, some of them double-page spreads, help to clarify the details mentioned in the text. The author does not sugarcoat discussion of Tikalian customs such as bloodletting, deadly sporting events, and human sacrifice, but she also talks about the people's impressive accomplishments, including the pyramids, the fine pottery, and the system of written expression. A glossary and a time line are appended, but there is, unfortunately, no list of sources. Even so, this will be welcomed by report writers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2003
Gr 4-8-This lavishly illustrated volume presents information on this Mesoamerican city, which flourished from 800 B.C.E. to around A.D. 900. Beginning with a discussion of the city's location on the Yucatan Peninsula, the informative text delves into the economic implications of its site on the Holmul River. The history that follows covers pyramid and home construction in general, the role of religion in the life of both the metropolis and its inhabitants, and the position of the city as either a conquering or a conquered city-state. A discussion of the disappearance of the Mayan civilization, including Tikal, wraps up the volume. Full- and double-page illustrations, executed in watercolor, are detailed and provide a fascinating reconstruction of life more than 1000 years ago. Reproductions of both artifacts and stelae also serve to extend the text. A clearly labeled foldout of Tikal in its heyday can be compared to a double-page photograph of the site as it looks today, giving not only pictorial evidence of the passage of time, but also an idea of how reconstructions are done. This is a fascinating look at a civilization that disappeared both mysteriously and abruptly.-Ann Welton, Grant Elementary School, Tacoma, WA

Copyright 2003 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2003
Tracking several hundred years of history, Mann keenly explores the Mayan city of Tikal, which flourished in the Yucatan Peninsula during the first millennium C.E. Profusely illustrated with boldly colored paintings, the text discusses Mayan advances in math and language, the Mayan penchant for war and sacrificial bloodletting, and the mysterious disappearance of this once thriving civilization. Glos., ind.

(Copyright 2003 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)