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The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes
Last updated Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Author: Duncan Tonatiuh
Date of Publication: 2016
ISBN: 1419721305
Grade Level: 2nd (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: May 2024
Synopsis:
Izta was the most beautiful princess in the land, and suitors traveled from far and wide to woo her. Even though she was the daughter of the emperor, Izta had no desire to marry a man of wealth and power. Instead, she fell in love with Popoca, a brave warrior who fought in her father's army - and a man who did not offer her riches but a promise to stay by her side forever.
The emperor did not want his daughter to marry a mere warrior, but he recognized Popoca's bravery. He offered Popoca a deal: If the warrior could defeat their enemy, Jaguar Claw, then the emperor would permit Popoca and Izta to wed. But Jaguar Claw had a plan to thwart the warrior. Would all be lost?
Today two majestic volcanoes - Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl - stand overlooking Mexico City. They have been admired and revered for countless generations and have formed the basis of many origin and creation myths.
| Note to readers: |
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Read the author's note after the last page.
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Various vocabulary words are in the back.
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Note that the non-English words are not Spanish but rather Nahuatl. It states "Many words of Nahuatl origin have become part of Spanish as it is spoken nowadays".
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| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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Do you know what a legend is?
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Why are legends/folktales important in history or culture?
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Has anyone ever been to Mexico City?
Vocabulary
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milpas: In agriculture, a milpa is a field for growing food crops and a crop-growing system used throughout Mesoamerica, especially in the Yucatán peninsula, in Mexico. The word milpa derives from the Nahuatl words milli and pan.
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Suitors: a man who pursues a relationship with a particular woman, with a view to marriage.
#woo: try to gain the love of (someone), especially with a view to marriage.
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lavish: sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious.
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quetzal: a type of bird with bright green feathers that can be found in the south of Mexico and in Central America.
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maiden: a girl or young unmarried woman; maid
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luxurious: extremely comfortable, elegant, or enjoyable, especially in a way that involves great expense.
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tonatiuh: sun or sun god
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cenzontle: mockingbird.
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chimalli: shield.
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macuahuitl:a wooden sword covered with very sharp obsidian blades.
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obsidian: a type of glass that's produced when volcanic magma cools rapidly.
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throngs: a multitude of people crowded or assembled together; crowd.
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xochitl: flower
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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What kind of person/Princess was Izta?
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Why did she accept Popoca's proposal?
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How do Izta and Popaca live on today?
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| Craft ideas: |
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Sunday, May12th is Mother’s Day. Make a greeting card for you mother, grandmother. Or if you have an older sibling, cousin or aunt who has had a baby recently, make one for them.
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Draw two volcanoes/mountains to represent Izta and Popcoa.
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The xochitl (saw-chee-tl) is a flower named in the story. It is also the name of an Aztec goddess and a Toltec queen. Look up the flower and show an image to the students. Have then draw a bundle of the flowers for a mother figure for mother's day.
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*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions.
You can use them, but you don't have to use them.
You can expand upon them, or add your own twist.
Remember, though, that the focus of your time should
not be on the development and execution of a craft;
the focus should be on the read-aloud and the
enjoyment of the book!
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