Hands of the Maya: Villagers at Work and Play (Hardcover)

by Rachel Crandell (Author) "Maya hands are seldom still..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 4-This picture book opens with a simple but colorful map of Mesoamerica and a brief foreword by the author describing her stay at a village in Belize. In the pages that follow, readers are offered snapshots of Maya villagers throughout the course of a day. Each spread features two photos: a small picture with a few lines of text opposite a full-page, close-up shot (often a detail of the same scene). The residents are most often depicted working: carrying firewood, preparing meals, sowing maize, and weaving, clearly illustrating the author's observation that "Maya hands are seldom still." The text, basically commentary on the activities in the photos, is somewhat choppy. Framed color photographs are attractively placed against a background of pale yellow and shadowy glyph forms. Despite a few grainy shots, the illustrations will interest children. This title can be used to introduce youngsters to other cultures and will supplement units on Central America and the Maya.
Daryl Grabarek, School Library Journal
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Ages 5-8. Crandell, an elementary school teacher who lived in several Maya communities, celebrates Maya work in this photo-essay that takes children through a day in a village. Each spread features one page with brief text that describes a task--building a house, weaving, farming--and a small color picture that illustrates the activity. On the opposite page is a larger photo of an individual's hands--fingers plucking an instrument, cradling a lamb, and so on. Some passages speak from an outsider's romanticized view ("Maya hands are never idle"), but for the most part, both text and images give children an intriguing glimpse of Maya art, food, shelter, family life, and language (Maya words are woven into the text and defined in an appended glossary). Kindergarten and elementary teachers can use this for discussions about home and family; an introductory note gives more background on the author's experiences with the Maya. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); 1st edition (June 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080506687X
• ISBN-13: 978-0805066876
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,006,597 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Warm, engaging, and informative book!, February 7, 2003

By	Kimi Ishikawa "Kimi" (Madison, WI United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Beautifully photographed and engagingly written, this is a thoughtful portrayal of the Mayan people presented as a day-in-the-life, and focusing on a lifestyle where hands still do the work (instead of dishwashers, food processors, etc!) It would be a wonderful gift book for a young child, or a great classroom supplement for a pre-K through 2nd grade class focusing on the Americas, community, indigenous peoples... or even the human body!