Feathered Serpent and the Five Suns

Synopsis:

“Long ago, the gods of Mesoamerica set out to create humans. They tried many times during each sun, or age. When all their attempts failed and the gods grew tired, only one did not give up: Quetzalcóatl—the Feathered Serpent. To continue, he first had to retrieve the sacred bones of creation guarded by Mictlantecuhtli, lord of the underworld. Gathering his staff, shield, cloak, and shell ornament for good luck, Feathered Serpent embarked on the dangerous quest to create humankind.

Award-winning author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh brings to life the story of Feathered Serpent, one of the most important deities in ancient Mesoamerica. With his instantly recognizable, acclaimed art style and grand storytelling, Tonatiuh recounts a thrilling creation tale of epic proportions.”

Review

One of the things I love most about reading is being able to learn about things that I’m unfamiliar with! The Mesoamerican culture and belief system is something I don’t know much about, but reading this book brought this story to life and I loved learning more about the people who lived on this continent first.

I love the way Duncan Tonatiuh brings to life stories that people may not be familiar with. Introducing readers to stories from the past in a way that is exciting and relevant to kids in today’s world. And he is definitely succeeding! With picture book biographies, nonfiction books about equality, and stories that have survived generations, Duncan is ensuring that these stories continue to live on.

Additional Thoughts

Duncan has a unique artistic style that is all his own and I’m sure you recognize his work when you see it. I loved his use of color in this story as the Feathered Serpent travels to the Underworld. Above ground, everything is brightly colored, but the underworld is at first darker tones that finally lead to black and white drawings. The juxtaposition of the two makes it very clear to the reader what is happening. His illustrations are also full of movement as you watch the waves move across the page, the wind whip past the characters, and the sun beam down from the sky. I really loved the illustrations and I think they help to tell the story.

I think Feathered Serpent and the Five Suns would be a great book to share when teaching elementary and even middle school kids about Mesoamerica. Pairing this with other creation stories from Indigenous tribes across Mesoamerica could a really interesting way to see the similarities and differences of people living during the same time in geographically different areas.

Need to Know:

Title: Feathered Serpent and the Five Suns
Author & Illustrator: Duncan Tonatiuh
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Page Number: 40 pgs.