From the series Ancient Civilizations
Ancient Maya
Reading Level Grade 4Interest Level Grades 3 – 8Copyright 2020
Reviewed
From the series Ancient Civilizations
Reading Level Grade 4Interest Level Grades 3 – 8Copyright 2020
ReviewedThe Mayans are remembered today for their beautiful pyramid temples. But this ancient civilization had many other innovations! This fact-filled title explores the underground reservoirs, rubber creations, and astronomy studies of ancient Maya. Engaging text and vivid images combine with special features such as profiles of gods and leaders, a cause and effect graphic, a time and place matrix, and a timeline to take readers on a journey to the past!
Colorful covers welcome readers to fictionalized stories about a child from the civilization and details about the history, culture, daily life, and demise of the civilization. A timeline, along with comparison charts related to language, forms of government, religious practices, and education structures (plus sidebars) supplement the narrative. Civilizations from nearly every continent are covered. Each title contains information about the society’s class structure. The people of each civilization are presented as accomplished; examples of ingenuity are included. The lasting impact and/or references to contemporary descendants are highlighted. Inconsistent captioning of photographs does a disservice to readers looking to learn more. A table of contents, photo credits, recommended reading, a link to recommended websites, and an index are featured in every book. VERDICT Criticisms aside, these titles contain useful information for research.
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