Clothes and Crafts in Aztec Times

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

While the history of the Aztecs unfolds as a backdrop, this informational book only deals with the artifacts of the Aztec empire: clothes, tools, jewelry, weaponry, games, and so forth. Ample illustrations, four six to a page, with informative captions are found on each spread. Boxed and bulleted sidebars give additional information. The text introduces several Aztec words for social classes and artifacts but the glossary only includes general vocabulary from the text so that readers may find themselves flipping back to recall who the macehualtin or calpulli were. The book calls out for a second glossary of Aztec words and students using this book, as textbook will want to create one. Four pages of projects invite children to make sheets into Aztec clothes and decorate them with taped-on paper patterns or stickers, a technique which will not stand up to much abuse at the class "Aztec Day." Still, the pictures in this book, all from primary sources, set this book apart as a useful augmentation to upper elementary and middle school curriculum on Aztecs. Part of the series on "Clothes and Crafts." l997, Dillon Press, Ages 8 to 14, $8.95. Reviewer: Susan Hepler