Musicians of the Sun (Hardcover)

by Gerald McDermott (Author) "Out of the starry night he came, invisible, untouchable..." (more)
Key Phrases: Lord of the Night, Musicians of the Sun

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 4. A retelling of an Aztec myth fragment in which the deity Tezcatlipoca, Lord of the Night, sends Wind to bring the musicians of the Sun to Earth, thus making all things joyful and colorful. McDermott has made several additions such as the weapons of thunder and lightning with which Wind bests the Sun, and he changes the clothing of one of the musicians to blue; the rainbow thus created brings color, as well as music, to the gray world. The language is spare and formal, almost like an invocation, full of dignity and drama. The illustrations, in McDermott's signature cinematic style, are wonderful, with the texture of the handmade paper evoking pre-Columbian codices, and the portrayal of the deities showing a knowledge of Aztec art. The colors, created with fabric paint, opaque inks, and oil pastels, are brilliant and intense. A note gives the history of the myth. The story, "How Music Was Made," appears in Irene Nicholson's adult book Mexican and Central American Mythology (Original Artworks, 1967; o.p.), which may be in some YA collections; a truncated version of it appears in John Bierhorst's The Hungry Woman (Morrow, 1993). Picture-book versions of Aztec myths suitable for sharing with classes are scarce, however, and this one should be welcome, especially since it is dignified enough to use with older children.?Pam Gosner, formerly at Maplewood Memorial Library, NJ
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
Musicians of the Sun has something irresistible to young readers: It is based on a fragment of Aztec mythology and, reflecting that cruel and passionate culture, it is a complex tale. -- The New York Times Book Review, Amy Finnerty

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; 1st edition (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689807066
• ISBN-13: 978-0689807060
• Product Dimensions: 12.4 x 10.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #791,297 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars beautiful book, November 16, 2002

By	"kejohns" (Lowell, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This is a beautiful book. I borrowed it from my local library to use as part of a unit on Aztecs I was making (I'm an education major), and after I read it I immediately wanted my own copy! I especially appreciated the background information the author gave at the end of the book, explaining a bit about the history of the story and how the illustrations were done.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful!, May 31, 2007

By	Amy Pass "Amy" (Mpls, MN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

We love this story! The four musicians are four different colors & are held captive by the sun, until the wind is sent to save them and bring them back to earth for the people to sing and dance and enjoy color and light. Even the sun is reconciled by the change in the earth & the people. We also appreciated learning the history of the story at the end of the book. A must-have!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A captivating retelling of an Aztec myth with incredible art, September 26, 1998

By A Customer

I pulled this book off the shelf at the library when browsing with my four year old. The book is oversized with beautiful artwork on the cover. My son ended up loving it more than I did. He was enthralled with the story and the pictures. He wanted it read over and over again until he could tell the story himself. This book is a treasure and a must-have for our own bookshelves.