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Want to know more about the worlds you discovered in Wackykids.org? Check out some of the super-cool things about each topic below. World of Japan's Samurai Warrior Maya Rainforest Dwellers Northwest Coast Indian Carving Fancy and Fun Chairs Ancient Egypt: Mummy Mysteries Chinese Dragon Robes   World of Japan's Samurai Warrior BOOKS Samurai Calliope, World History for Young People January/February 1993 For ages 9-14. This magazine includes articles about armor and swords as well as activities. Available at the Denver Public Library, Children's Library, in periodical section. Can be ordered from Cobblestone Publishing, Inc. 1-800-821-0115. Old Japan by Claire Doran Make it Work book series For ages 9-11. Unique book of projects and information about Japan. Includes sections on kendo (the way of the sword) martial arts, samurai life, and how to make a sword. ISBN 1568471394 Step Into Ancient Japan by Fiona MacDonald The Step Into Series of books For ages 9-12. Photos of Japan, art projects and information about castle builders, meals and manners, ancient Japanese writing and drawing, and more. ISBN 185967917X A Samurai Castle by Fiona MacDonald Inside Story book series For ages 9-12. Excellent illustrations and text reveal life in a samurai castle - its people, the warlord and his army, and a day in the life of a samurai. Available at the Denver Public Library:  j 952.02 M145sam ISBN 0872263819 Tasty Baby Belly Buttons by Judy Sierra For ages 4-8. Retelling of a Japanese legend about a brave little girl who wields a sword and saves kidnapped babies from nasty ogres. Sweet, funny watercolor illustrations. Available at the Denver Public Library:  j 398.20952 S572tas ISBN 0679893695 The Samurai's Daughter: A Japanese Legend by Robert D. San Souci For ages 4-8. Richly illustrated story of a daughter who follows her exiled father, defeats a sea monster, and restores her father to favor. Available at the Denver Public Library:  j 398.210952 S197sam ISBN 0140562842 Shibumi and the Kitemaker by Mercer Mayer For ages 4-8. Bright illustrations help tell the sweet story of an emperor’s daughter who escapes a great castle to see the world and meets a young samurai. Available at the Denver Public Library:  jFIC MAYER M ISBN 0761450548 Kodomo: Children of Japan by Susan Kuklin For ages 4-8. Today’s Japanese kids share their study of the art of handwriting and the sport of fencing. Fabulous books, illustrated with lively photos of schools, stores, and homes. Available at the Denver Public Library:  j 952.04083 K958ko ISBN 0399226133   LINKS KidsWebJapan www.jinjapan.org/kidsweb/ For surfers ages 8-12. Lively color drawings explore Japan past and present, including ninja (spies in the age of samurai), sports, daily life, festivals, and food. Entertaining and informative. Kids' Japan www.kids-japan.com/ For surfers ages 9-16. A place to meet Japanese kids and explore comics, toys, food, sports, and other topics through games. Kyoto National Museum Dictionary for Kids www.kyohaku.go.jp/ For surfers ages 10-14. Parents will also enjoy this site. A comic professor guides kids through this great museum in one of Japan's great cities, Kyoto. Topics include archeology, calligraphy (beautiful handwriting), paintings, textiles, and architecture. Back to top Maya Rainforest Dwellers BOOKS The Spirit of the Maya: A Boy Explores His People’s Mysterious Past by Guy Garcia, Ted Wood (photographer) For ages 8-12. Twelve-year-old Kin, a Lancando’n Indian from Mexico, develops an interest in his Maya ancestors when his grandfather tells him about a king who began his long reign at Kin’s age. Kin decides to visit the King’s tomb. Available at the Denver Public Library:  j 972.75 0165 Sp ISBN 0802783805 Angela Weaves A Dream: The Story of a Young Maya Artist by Michele Sola and Jeffrey Jay Fox For ages 8-12. Photo essay about a young Maya girl who learns to weave. Maya myths help her remember the designs of her village. Later, a dream tells her how to combine the designs into a sampler that she enters in a village competition. Shows the importance of this art and the hard work involved. Available at the Denver Public Library:  j 746.104999.S684 an ISBN 0786800739 Popol Vuh: A Sacred Book of the Maya By Victor Montejo, Luis Garay (illustrator) For ages 10-14. Wrathful and kindhearted gods, giants, mortals, jaguars, and colorful birds inhabit this creation story. It was recorded in the K’iche language in 1558, discovered in 1701, and is retold here in English for the first time. Children will enjoy the vivid characters, tales of revenge, and tests of wit and strength. Available at the Denver Public Library:  j 299.78415 M764po and j299.78415 M764pop SPANISH ISBN 088899334X Aztec, Inca and Maya: Eyewitness Books by Elizabeth Banquedano, Michel Zage (photographer) For ages 8-11. An introduction to the three major civilizations of the Americas. Color photos of cities, pottery, jewelry, and clothing accompany information on farming, hunting and fishing, family life, the arts, and medicine. Available at the Denver Public Library:  j 972.01.B229 Az ISBN 067983883X Why There is No Arguing in Heaven: A Mayan Myth by Deborah Nourse Lattimore For ages 6-12. In this creation myth, the Chief Maya gods vie for a place near the creator by making creatures to worship them. When all the creatures are destroyed or scattered, the corn god plants seeds to create mankind. Older children will enjoy finding and decoding Maya inscriptions. Available at the Denver Public Library:  j 398.2L356 Wh ISBN 006023718-X Rain Player by David Wisniewski, Lee Salisberry (photographer) For ages 5-9. A young Maya ball player challenges the rain god to a game of pok-a-tok (resembling soccer and basketball), hoping to save the people of his ancient civilization from a terrible drought. Spectacular cut-paper illustrations. Available at the Denver Public Library:  j EW ISBN 0395720834   LINKS Mayan Ballgame www.ballgame.org "Explore the first team sport in human history and learn the meaning of winner takes all - the sport of life and death - the Mesoamerican ballgame." Rabbit in the Moon www.halfmoon.org For surfers ages 8 and up. This interactive site lets you calculate and print out your birth date on the Maya calendar. Games, interesting information on Maya culture and language, and lots of pictures. Canadian Museum of Civilization www.civilization.ca/civil/maya/mminteng.html www.civilization.ca/civil/maya/mminteng.html Children younger than 8 may need parent’s help. Interesting information about the ancient Maya calendars, astronomy, cities, writing, mathematics, and gods make this a great homework resource. Back to top Northwest Coast Indian Carving BOOKS Totem Pole by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith, Lawrence Migdale (photographer) For ages 9-12. Travel to Washington State to meet young David, hear about his Tsimshian family and traditions, and watch David’s father carve a totem pole. Available at the Denver Public Library:  j 730.89974 H856to ISBN 0823411354 Carving a Totem Pole by Vickie Jensen For ages 9-12. Wonderful photos and story take you to British Columbia to see the making of a 42-foot totem pole. Available at the Denver Public Library:  j 730.89974 J453 car ISBN 155054232X In the Company of Whales: From the Diary of a Whale Watcher by Alexandra Morton For readers ages 6-12. Follow a British Columbia whale watcher and learn about the lifestyle of killer whales. Available at the Denver Public Library:  j 599.53 M846in ISBN 1551430584 Salmon Summer by Bruce McMillan For ages 4-11. Exciting photos tell the story of 9-year-old Alex’s summer adventures on Alaska’s Kodiak Island. Available at the Denver Public Library:  j 639.2756 M228saL ISBN 0395845440 The Bentwood Box: An Activity Book by Nan McNutt For ages 6-12. Explore the world of the Northwest Coast Indians through activities like designing your own bentwood box. Available at the Denver Public Library:  j 745.54 M236be ISBN 1570611165 The Girl Who Lived with the Bears by Barbara Diamond Goldin, Andrew Plewes (illustrator) For ages 5-9. Find out what happens when a chief’s daughter insults the bear people in this traditional tale of the Tlingit, Tsimshian, and Haida. Available at the Denver Public Library:  j 398.245297 G569gi ISBN 0152006842 Indians of the Northwest: Traditions, History, Legends and Life by Petra Press For ages 8-12. Learn about the Northwest Coast Indians through stories, photos, and illustrations. Available at the Denver Public Library:  j 979.500497 P926in ISBN 0762400722 My Elders Tell Me by Marion Roze Wright, Judy Hilgemann (illustrator) For ages 8-12. Explore the village, traditions, and daily lives of three 9-year-old cousins in British Columbia. Order this book from: U’mista Cultural Centre P.O. Box 253 Alert Bay, B.C. VON JAO Tel: 250-974-5403 Fax: 250-974-5499   LINKS Councilfire www.councilfire.com/ For surfers ages 10-12. Learn about the history, legends, and current events of Native People and try your hand at cooking some new recipes. Canadian Museum of Civilization http://www.civilisations.ca/ For surfers ages 9-12. Visit the museum’s First Peoples Hall, read stories, learn about canoes, and discover the Northwest Coast. Oregon Coast Aquarium www.aquarium.org/whales/orca/orca01.htm For surfers ages 8-12. All about the killer whale – its size, where it lives, and what it eats. Back to top Fancy and Fun Chairs BOOKS A Chair For My Mother by Vera B. Williams For ages 8-10. Rosa, her mother, and grandmother save to buy a chair that all three can enjoy. Available at the Denver Public Library:  j EW ISBN 0-688-04074-8 Be Seated: A Book About Chairs by James Cross Giblin For ages 8-12. The history of seating through time and cultures - stools, thrones, couches, chairs, and more. You’ll be amazed by what you learn! On order at the Denver Public Library. ISBN 0-06-021537-2 Chairmania: Fantastic Miniatures by George M. Beylerian, Ilisa Katz (photographer) For ages 8-10. Peek at one man’s collection of miniature chairs, and you’ll want to make your own chair! On order at the Denver Public Library. ISBN 0-8109-3193-1 Hammocks, Hassocks & Hideaways - Furniture Kids Can Build for Themselves by Timothy Fisher For ages 12 and up. Want to build a chair, but think it’s too hard? This book will teach you to make cool chairs and other furniture with stuff you have at home. Available at the Denver Public Library: Y 745.593 F537ham ISBN 0-201-02936-7   LINKS Design Within Reach www.dwr.com/products.cfm?id=1 For surfers ages 10-12. This Internet furniture catalogue features more than 100 cool chairs. Click on each one for fascinating facts. Metropolitan Museum of Art: American Decorative Arts www.metmuseum.org/collections/department.asp?dep=1 For surfers ages 10-12. See and read about nine chairs from the past and other furniture, too! Click on View 50 Highlights and then on the object you want to see. Ancient Egypt: Mummy Mysteries BOOKS What Life Was Like on the Banks of the Nile Time-Life-Books (Editor) For ages 9-12 Recounts many intriguing tales of the lives of ancient Egyptians including stories of the great pyramids and the Nile. Available at the Denver Public Library: 932 W556 ISBN: 0809493780 Pyramid by: David MacAulay For ages 9-12 Text and illustrations tell the story of how ancient pyramids were built. Available at the Denver Public Library: j690.68 M119py ISBN: 0395321212 Eyewitness: Mummy by: James Putnam, Peter Hayman For ages 9-12 Documents the history and significance of mummies and the ceremonies associated with them. Available at the Denver Public Library: j393.3 P983mu ISBN: 0789465930 Eyewitness: Ancient Egypt by: George Hart For ages 9-12 A photo essay on ancient Egypt and the people who lived there.  The book describes their society, religion, and their belief on an afterlife. Available at the Denver Public Library: j932.01 H251an ISBN: 0789465728 Growing Up in Ancient Egypt by: Rosalie David, illustrated by Angus McBride For ages 9-12 A great description of the daily life of ancient Egypt including what kinds of food, pets, and toys ancient Egyptians liked. Available at the Denver Public Library: j932.01 D28gr ISBN: 081672718X   LINKS National Geographic For ages 10 and up Learn how the ancient Egyptians mummified the bodies of kings and other important people. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/world/9906/mummies/mummies.html Seattle Art Museum For ages 6-12 Help an ancient Egyptian barber pick hairstyles for his customers.  Which ones are your favorite? http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/Exhibitions/Egypt/discover/hairstyle.htm Sea World For ages 8-12 A great site for fun Egyptian games like make your own cartouche and complete a Mummy Maze! www.seaworld.org/Egypt/egypt.html The Cleveland Museum of Art For ages 6-12 This site has lots of cool activities to do, from fun pages for coloring to making your own cutout figure of a Pharaoh. www.clemusart.com/archive/pharaoh/rosetta/index.html Back to top Chinese Dragon Robes BOOKS The Empress and the Silkworm by: Lily Toy Hong For ages 4-8 Find out how the Chinese discovered silk because of a curious and creative empress of China over 3,000 years ago. Available at the Denver Public Library: jE H ISBN: 0807520098 The Dragon's Pearl by: Lawson/Morin For ages 4-8 During a terrible drought, a cheerful boy finds a dragon's magical pearl and forever changes his life and the lives of the people in his town. Available at the Denver Public Library: j398.2 L445dr ISBN: 039563623-x The Luminous Pearl, A Chinese Folktale by: Betty L. Torre For ages 4-8 The Dragon King's daughter wants an honest man for a husband so she develops a quest for two brothers, which of them will find the luminous pearl? Available at the Denver Public Library: j398.210951 T635Lu ISBN: 0531058905 LINKS Surfing the Net with Kids For ages 4-10 Find a few games to play, books to read, and even more sites on China.  Discover China has some great pictures of the Forbidden City, where the Emperor used to live. www.surfnetkids.com/china.htm The Minneapolis Institute of Art For ages 9-12 See cool pictures of a dragon robe and read a story about how the dragon brings  much needed water to China during droughts. www.artsmia.org/mythology/slide22.html  Back to top