Overlooking the bustling crowds in Mexico City are two volcanoes, Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl. For generations these two giants have been revered and admired by many, inspiring dozens of myths about their origin. In The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes (Abrams, $16.95), author/illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh recounts one of these ancient stories. The beautiful princess Izta falls in love with brave warrior Popoca because he loves her for who she is, not her position of power. The emperor agrees to give Popoca his daughter’s hand in marriage on one condition: he must defeat the kingdom’s greatest enemy, Jaguar Claw. But Jaguar Claw tricks the couple, leading them to transform into the volcanoes we see today. This spellbinding story and its Aztec-inspired illustrations will take the reader on a fascinating trip back in time. Ages 5-8.
