How to Be an Aztec Warrior

Have you sharpened your weapons? Are you ready for battle? Can you speak Classical Nahuatl? Do you know the legend of the vision of the eagle clutching the snake on a prickly pear cactus—the first signal to our ancestors of the site our great city of Tenochtitlan? Can you take prisoners and bring them back alive to offer as human sacrifice to the gods? Only then may you cut your hair! So are you ready for your initiation as an Aztec Warrior?

School Library Journal

Gr 2-5-Using a highly visual format, Macdonald introduces readers to the lives of warriors and protectors throughout history. In a format reminiscent of David Antram's "You Wouldn't Want to-" series (Watts), spreads cover the "job requirements," weaponry, family life, money, and much more. A paragraph introduces each topic and informative captions add details. Under headings such as "Can You Afford Armor?" and "Have You Had Your Hair Cut?" interesting tidbits include such facts as Samurai had to contend with lice-infested, smelly armor, and that an Aztec warrior could not cut his hair until he had captured his first prisoner. The author also examines how a medieval knight put on a heavy suit of armor, how a Roman soldier might have prepared for battle, what dangers a Samurai might have faced, and the emblems of an Aztec warrior-just the sort of facts that will appeal to young readers. The illustrations include full-color photographs of artifacts and detailed drawings, many of which are labeled. A short quiz at the end of each book prepares youngsters for their "interview," while the excellent glossaries strengthen these offerings. High-interest topics brought to life through readable texts.-Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.