Bowles, David. Ancient Night. David Álvarez, Illus. Levine Querido, 03/2023. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-64614-251-4. GRADES Preschool – Kindergarten. OUTSTANDING.
At the start, when the world was young, Rabbit would fill the moon with godly nectar so it would glow. This creative piece combines both the narratives and traditions of the Nahua and Maya people, celebrating the richness of Mesoamerican culture through the combination of two pourquoi stories of the moon and sun, as well as poor Opossum’s burned tail. The book’s tone and third person perspective (“Rabbit made her way down the Great Ceiba’s Trunk”) alludes to the venerated oral tradition, while Álvarez’s combination of inky black sky and subdued acrylic coloration lends a dreamlike air. Throughout the book, Bowles enhances authenticity with allusions toward other Mesoamerican creation myths. The provided glossary respectfully carves out a place for the many stories attached to the sacred plants and animals within. The transition between dark and light colors lends the book to a morning storytime with sleepy toddlers.
Tyler Livy—San Francisco Public Library