A Land of Books: Dreams of Young Mexihcah Word Painters

by Duncan Tonatiuh Narrated by Carolina Hoyos

Overview

Our world, little brother, is an amoxtlalpan, a land of books. In the jungles where the jaguar dwells, the Mayas make books. In the mountains the cloud people, the Mixtecs, make them as well. So do others in the coast and in the forests. And we the Mexica of the mighty Aztec empire, who dwell in the valley of the volcanoes, make them too. A young Aztec girl tells her little brother how their parents create beautiful painted manuscripts, or codices. She explains to him how paper is made from local plants and how the long paper is folded into a book. Her parents and others paint the codices to tell the story of their people's way of life, documenting their history, science, tributes, and sacred rituals. Inspired by the pre-Columbian codices, this story tells how-contrary to the historical narrative that European colonizers bestowed “civilization” and knowledge to the Americas-the Aztec and their neighbors in the Valley of Mexico painted books and records long before Columbus arrived, and continued doing so among their Nahua-speaking descendants for generations after the Spanish Conquest.

Editorial Reviews

JANUARY 2023 - AudioFile

Carolina Hoyos expertly and lovingly narrates this astounding audiobook. A Mexihcah girl tells her little brother about the history of book making in Mesoamerica before the arrival of Europeans. Book-making techniques are explored in depth—from the plants used to make the pages to the animals, insects, and rocks used to complete and decorate the books. How these books were read, by whom, and what happened during the Spanish Conquest are discussed. Hoyos narrates clearly, especially the words in Nahuatl, which is impressive. Hoyos’s narration brings warmth to this story, which balances nicely with the technical facts about book making. Gentle sound effects and soft music are present throughout the production, enhancing the listening experience. A.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

Publishers Weekly

★ 10/17/2022

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. (Nov.)

The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

**STARRED REVIEW**
"A loving and layered examination of culture, values, and the stories that shape them."

Booklist

"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."

The Horn Book

**STARRED REVIEW**
"An author’s note provides historical context, centering the importance of preserving Indigenous art . . . storytelling, and knowledge."

Horn Book (starred review)

“An author’s note provides historical context, centering the importance of preserving Indigenous art…storytelling, and knowledge.”

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“A loving and layered examination of culture, values, and the stories that shape them.”

AudioFile

“Carolina Hoyos expertly and lovingly narrates this astounding audiobook…Hoyos narrates clearly, especially the words in Nahuatl, which is impressive. Hoyos’s narration brings warmth to this story…Gentle sound effects and soft music are present throughout the production, enhancing the listening experience. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”

From the Publisher

**STARRED REVIEW**
"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. . .Utterly indispensable."—Kirkus Reviews

**STARRED REVIEW**
"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. . .Utterly indispensable."—Kirkus Reviews

**STARRED REVIEW**
"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. . . 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." —Publishers Weekly

**STARRED REVIEW**
"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. . . 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." —Publishers Weekly

**STARRED REVIEW**
"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."—School Library Journal

**STARRED REVIEW**
"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."—School Library Journal

**STARRED REVIEW**
"A loving and layered examination of culture, values, and the stories that shape them."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

**STARRED REVIEW**
"A loving and layered examination of culture, values, and the stories that shape them."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

**STARRED REVIEW**
"An author’s note provides historical context, centering the importance of preserving Indigenous art . . . storytelling, and knowledge." —The Horn Book

**STARRED REVIEW**
"An author’s note provides historical context, centering the importance of preserving Indigenous art . . . storytelling, and knowledge." —The Horn Book

"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."—Booklist

"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."—Booklist

School Library Journal

★ 11/01/2022

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

JANUARY 2023 - AudioFile

Carolina Hoyos expertly and lovingly narrates this astounding audiobook. A Mexihcah girl tells her little brother about the history of book making in Mesoamerica before the arrival of Europeans. Book-making techniques are explored in depth—from the plants used to make the pages to the animals, insects, and rocks used to complete and decorate the books. How these books were read, by whom, and what happened during the Spanish Conquest are discussed. Hoyos narrates clearly, especially the words in Nahuatl, which is impressive. Hoyos’s narration brings warmth to this story, which balances nicely with the technical facts about book making. Gentle sound effects and soft music are present throughout the production, enhancing the listening experience. A.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

★ 2022-08-02
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)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940175148795
Publisher:	Dreamscape Media
Publication date:	11/24/2022
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	Up to 4 Years

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