Birth of the Fifth Sun by Jo Harper
Many of these seventeen short tales deriving from Mesoamerican mythology are traditional and have traveled through time among the indigenous peoples of Mexico and Central America. A few are contemporary and seem to originate with Nahuatl-speaking descendants of the Aztecs. All of them, however, grace the pages here in lively fashion for young readers nine and up.Many middle schools include Aztec and Mayan myths in their curricula, but the selection is narrow, the sources scattered, and the stories themselves usually undeveloped, even fragmentary. Most of the stories are found only in scholarly works far beyond the grasp of young readers. Now, enlarging upon the mythology that frames the decision-making of her young adult hero and heroine in Delfino?s Journey and Teresa?s Journey, Jo Harper fleshes out tales of Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca for fourth through sixth graders. Young readers will also meet the Jaguar Sun, the Snake Woman, and the Pepper Man.To be as faithful as possible to the pre-Columbian, Mesoamerican worldview and humor of the original tales, Harper consulted closely with indigenous Nahuatl speakers and cultural anthropologists, yet her delivery has all the freshness and polish of a practiced storyteller who knows her audience. Here then for young readers and their teachers is an engaging introduction to Mesoamerican mythology and to an oral tradition worth preserving well beyond the classroom.
These stories are charming, humorous, interesting and a great window on the culture of Mexico and Central AmericaEach story is a teaching story about the history of the birth of various aspects of the cultures. Some are built around various animals and birds like Buzzards and Possums which will delight all readers. Storytellers will enjoy using these stories in groups. Teachers will enjoy the variety of stories to introduce student to the oral history tradition and culture of these peoples. --Dee Ann Ray, Weatherford Daily News, 08/02/08
Harper, John Lamberton: - John Lamberton Harper is Professor of American Foreign Policy and European Studies at the Bologna Center of the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. He is the author of America and the Reconstruction of Italy, 1945-1948, winner of the 1987 Marraro Prize from the Society for Italian Historical Studies, and American Visions of Europe: Franklin D. Roosevelt, George F. Kennan, and Dean G. Acheson, winner of the 1995 Robert Ferrell Prize from the Society of Historians of American Foreign Relations. His articles and reviews have appeared in The American Historical Review, The Journal of American History, The Times Literary Supplement, Foreign Affairs, The National Interest, Survival, World Policy Journal, SAIS Review, and other publications.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780896726253 |
| ISBN 10 | 0896726258 |
| Title | Birth of the Fifth Sun |
| Author | Jo Harper |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Texas Tech Press,U.S. |
| Year published | 2008-06-30 |
| Number of pages | 120 |
| Prizes | Commended for Moonbeam Children's Book Award (Multicultural Nonfiction) 2008 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |