For children curious about how the world began or eager to explore diverse cultural stories, this book vividly shares an ancient Mesoamerican creation myth.
A parent might reach for this book when their child asks big questions about how the world began and is ready to explore stories beyond the familiar. Duncan Tonatiuh's book retells the Mesoamerican creation myth of the Five Suns, in which the gods repeatedly create and destroy the world until the Feathered Serpent, Quetzalcóatl, undertakes a heroic journey to create humanity. The story beautifully illustrates themes of resilience, perseverance, and creativity. With its unique art style inspired by ancient codices, it's a perfect choice for children ages 6-9, offering a visually stunning introduction to a rich cultural history and providing important representation for children of Mexican heritage.
The underworld is ruled by a lord of death and contains stylized skeletons.
Sensitive Topics
The central theme is creation and destruction. The destruction of worlds and their inhabitants is a recurring event. The journey to the underworld involves a skeletal lord of the dead. The approach is entirely mythological and metaphorical, not personal. It is rooted in the Nahua religious worldview but presented as a cultural story. The resolution is hopeful, culminating in the successful creation of our current world.
Ideal Reader
This is for a curious 7 or 8-year-old who loves mythology and is ready for stories beyond the Greek pantheon. It is also an essential book for a child of Mexican or Central American heritage seeking a powerful connection to their ancestral stories.
Parent Prep
A parent should preview the book to become familiar with the names (a pronunciation guide is helpfully included). It's also good to be prepared to discuss the concept of worlds being destroyed. The scenes in Mictlan, with its skeletal figures, might be worth a look before sharing with a particularly sensitive child, though the art style is highly stylized, not gory. A parent has just heard their child ask, "How did people get here?" or "What are some other stories about how the world was made?" Another trigger is a child showing interest in Aztec or Maya history after a school unit or museum visit.
Age Experience
A 6-year-old will be captivated by the dramatic events: giants being eaten by jaguars, worlds blowing away. They will see a grand adventure story. A 9-year-old will better grasp the abstract concepts: the perseverance of the gods, the theme of sacrifice, and the cyclical nature of existence. They will also appreciate the author's note connecting the myth to history and art.
What Makes It Special
The primary differentiator is Duncan Tonatiuh's signature art style, which is directly inspired by ancient Mixtec codices. This makes the book not just a story, but an immersive cultural and artistic artifact. Unlike many retellings of myths, this book's visuals provide a deep, authentic connection to the source material. The inclusion of a glossary and detailed author's note also sets it apart as a high-quality educational resource.
Read plot summary
The book recounts the Nahua creation myth. It describes the four previous attempts by the gods to create a world and humanity, each ending in destruction by jaguars, wind, fiery rain, and water. The main narrative focuses on the Fifth Sun, our current world. The god Quetzalcóatl, the Feathered Serpent, journeys to Mictlan, the underworld, to retrieve the precious bones of past generations. He tricks the lord of the dead, Mictlantecuhtli, and escapes to create the first man and woman of the Fifth Sun.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
The gods had to try five times to create a world that would last. Why do you think they kept trying instead of giving up after the first time?
2
Quetzalcóatl had to trick Mictlantecuhtli, the lord of the dead, to get the bones. Do you think it was the right thing to do? Why or why not?
3
The author's pictures are based on ancient art. How do these unique illustrations make you feel while reading the story?
4
To bring the bones to life, the gods gave some of their own blood. What does this act of sacrifice tell you about how they felt about creating humans?
