Gr 6 Up-Divided into sections that explore everything from wildlife, home life, nature, and ghosts, this collection of poetry introduces readers to poet Humberto Ak'abal's home in Guatemala, and the pride and love felt for his Maya K'iche' village and the history it carries. Individual sections discuss everyday life in the village and animals, such as birds and dogs, and dissect aspects of nature, such as the moon and stars as magical things you can reach out and touch. Less tangible topics explored include love, ghosts, life, and deathruminating about the place of each in everyday life, as well as the beauty and lessons that they teach. Ak'abal does not shy away from the hardships the Maya have suffered, sharing verses about injustice and poverty whose roots stretch back hundreds of years. The watercolor and pencil illustrations depict everyday life and transform mundane sights, such as dogs, flowers, trees, and the moon, into something extraordinary. English and Spanish translations are provided side by side. Additional information about the author, illustrator, and translator is included, providing insight into the author's life and work. VERDICT An excellent addition to poetry collections for youth, sure to also find fans among adult readers. Selenia Paz, Harris County P.L., Houston

A collection of poetry dedicated to the natural world just in time to inspire outdoor exploration. Maya K'iche' poet Humberto Ak'abal composed the poems in this collection in his native K'iche' language (although they are only featured in English and Spanish here), offering a closely observant and at times mischievous ode to the small moments and details in quotidian life. His poems, originally composed for an adult audience, feature concise language, animal sounds that readers will surely delight in imitating ("Tu tu cuuurrr . . . / an owl"), close observations ("and the ants / always in a hurry / carrying provisions"), and risible imagery ("A bird made its nest / on my head"), all which bear undeniable child appeal. Some concepts and metaphors may exceed the understanding of a younger audience, such as ruminations on aging and unrequited love, but here is a collection that can grow with readers and initiate conversations about Indigenous heritage. Full-bleed watercolor spreads precede the 12 thematic sections, offering a strong sense of place and a loving portrayal of the Guatemalan landscapes, inhabitants, dress, and cultural traditions.

An ode to nature and life from the late Guatemalan poet (1952-2019).Ak'abal's poems explore both nature and humanity as he writes about relationships, like the one between mother and child, or from the perspective of wildlife, such as a jaguar. Aldana's selection of his poems provides a map for what a day (or a life) must be like in paradise. He considers Creation in "Al despertar," substituting Eve for the gift of poetry, and delves into death in sections titled "Living and Dying" and "500 Years." Aldana's introduction presents the poet's impressive legacy and justifies the need for young readers to have access to Ak'abal's poetry. Further, it explains Ak'abal's choice to first write in K'iche' and then to translate and publish in Spanish, bringing a narrative about the Maya experience to a broad readership and facilitating a conversation about the poet's identity and relationships with family members that had a "K'iche' voice." The side-by-side bilingual format of Ak'abal's Spanish pieces alongside Hazelton's English translation invites readers to further consider the impact that languages have on identity and the relationship between mother tongues and the surrounding natural world, as onomatopoeias are not translated. This relationship is further exemplified in Carling's illustrations, which separate the thematic sections and plunge readers into the heart of a jungle ecosystem filled with human-made objects.Beautiful imagery ushers readers into a complex conversation. (Poetry. 8-12)