The Poet King of Tezcoco: A Great Leader of Ancient Mexico [Hardcover]

Francisco Serrano (Author), Pablo Serrano (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

One of ancient Mexico’s most remarkable rulers, Nezahualcóyotl was a brilliant poet, architect, and engineer. After reclaiming the throne stolen by his murderous uncle, the Poet King became a great ruler who built palaces, libraries, aqueducts, and gardens. Though he endured many tragedies, his poetry brought him comfort and secured his reputation as a literary master. Nezahualcóyotl’s amazing life and achievements are related here in a unique combination of biography and poetry. Though written at a child’s level, this beautifully crafted and lushly illustrated story thrills and informs readers of all ages.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In the fifteenth century, the land where Mexico City now sprawls was a vast, green kingdom called Tezcoco. This picture-book biography for older readers introduces one of Tezcoco's greatest rulers, a Toltec royal named Nezahualcoyotl, who fought rivals, reclaimed his family's throne, and brought dramatic advancements to his kingdom. Nezahualcoyotl was also a poet whose works have survived, and the packed spreads combine prose accounts of the ruler's life with excerpts from his verse. The dense narrative doesn't shy away from the violent facts about human sacrifice or how Nezahualcoyotl arranged for a rival's death in order to win his bride. The folk-art inspired illustrations echo the area's artistic traditions with beautiful patterning and symbolic imagery and flat, simplified characters reminiscent of hieroglyphics. Groundbreaking in its coverage of exciting history, this book offers details that are rarely presented to young people. Appended chronology, glossary, list of suggested readings, an author's note citing sources, and a map of the area offer further support to young researchers. Engberg, Gillian

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Groundwood Books (April 26, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0888997876
• ISBN-13: 978-0888997876
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,814,166 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #66 in Books > Children's Books > History > Mexico

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Different Take on Aztec Culture, September 5, 2011

By 

Marco Antonio Abarca (Colorado) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Poet King of Tezcoco: A Great Leader of Ancient Mexico (Hardcover)

Like most people, my knowledge of the Aztecs is shaped by their eventual conquest by the Spaniards. Their entire culture exists to be a foil to their European conquerors. So it was with pleasure that I read this children's biography of Nezahualcoyotl, the great poet king of Tezcoco. He lived in the years immediately preceeding the conquest and was famed as a soldier, builder and poet of the highest order. This biography allows the young reader to enter the pre columbian world in its own context. This is a fresh point of view and I thought the book was very well done. Recommended.