Among the Maya of Xculoc, an isolated farming village in the lowland forests of the Yucatan peninsula, children contribute to household production in considerable ways. Thus this village, the subject of anthropologist Karen Kramer's study, affords a remarkable opportunity for understanding the economics of childhood in a pre-modern agricultural setting. Drawing on a range of theoretical perspectives and extensive data gathered over many years, Kramer interprets the form, value, and consequences of children's labor in this maize-based culture. She looks directly at family size and birth spacing as they figure in the economics of families; and she considers the timing of children's economic contributions and their role in underwriting the cost of large families. Kramer's findings--in particular, that the children of Xculoc begin to produce more than they consume long before they marry and leave home--have a number of interesting implications for the study of family reproductive decisions and parent-offspring conflict, and for debates within anthropology over children's contributions in hunter/gatherer versus agricultural societies. With its theoretical breadth, and its detail on crop yields, reproductive histories, diet, work scheduling, and agricultural production, this book sets a new standard for measuring and interpreting child productivity in a subsistence farming community.

In ancient Mexico, the beautiful and magical grandchildren of the Sun God are endangered by the threat of Senor Tiempo who, jealous of their immortality, plots to destroy them.

Lee Lee is a six-year-old girl who lives with her om, her ad and her little four-year-old sister, Danae. Lee Lee remembered from the previous summer that every summer, Mr. Warren drives through their neighborhood in a truck that pulls a traveling merry-go-round on the back of the truck that children can ride for a quarter. Danae wanted to ride on the horses too, but Lee Lee told her sister that she was not tall enough and old enough to ride by herself. Because she had to wait two more days for her special ride, Lee Lee would ask her Mom every morning if the day has come for her special ride yet.Lee Lee was very excited when the day finally came that Mr. Warren and the traveling merry-go-round would come to their neighborhood. All of the children screamed with joy when they saw the truck turn the corner onto their street and they lined up for their ride. Lee Lee selected a horse that had her favorite color on it. She smiled from ear to ear every time she saw her om and Danae and would wave to them. When the music stopped and it was time for Lee Lee to get off the horse, she pouted at first and wouldnt get off the horse. Then she looked out at all of her friends who were looking sad because they didnt think they would be able to get a chance to ride on the horses. But Lee Lee remembered the scripture that her om always taught her: Treat other people the way you want them to treat you. When she got off her horse, all of her friends screamed ay! This story was a lesson for Lee Lee to learn to treat others the way she wants them to treat her.

Photographs and simple text describe what daily life is like for Maya villagers, showing how they prepare meals, weave clothing, make roofs, and create art and music.

INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY FROM THE CHILDHOOD OF VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS! A beautiful, empowering picture book about two sisters who work with their community to effect change, inspired by a true story from the childhood of the author’s aunt, Kamala Harris, and mother, lawyer and policy expert Maya Harris. “A must read for little girls around the world.” —Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts “An inspiring tale.” —Stacey Abrams, Former Minority Leader, Georgia House of Representatives; Founder and Chair, Fair Fight Action “I love this book.” —Megan Rapinoe, Co-Captain, U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team One day, Kamala and Maya had an idea. A big idea: They would turn their empty apartment courtyard into a playground! This is the uplifting tale of how the author’s aunt and mother first learned to persevere in the face of disappointment and turned a dream into reality. This is a story of children’s ability to make a difference and of a community coming together to transform their neighborhood. A New York Times bestseller!

La Llorona, the Crying Woman, is the legendary creature who haunts rivers, lakes, and lonely roads. Said to seek out children who disobey their parents, she has become a "boogeyman," terrorizing the imaginations of New Mexican children and inspiring them to behave. But there are other lessons her tragic history can demonstrate for children. In Rudolfo Anaya's version Maya, a young woman in ancient Mexico, loses her children to Father Time's cunning. This tragic and informative story serves as an accessible message of mortality for children. La Llorona, deftly translated by Enrique Lamadrid, is familiar and newly informative, while Amy Córdova's rich illustrations illuminate the story. The legend as retold by Anaya, a man as integral to southwest tradition as La Llorona herself, is storytelling anchored in a very human experience. His book helps parents explain to children the reality of death and the loss of loved ones.

Fly with Maya is the story of a curious young girl who travels around the world in a hot air balloon. On her journey she meets engineers who tell her about their jobs and help herunderstand how her balloon works.What makes her balloon fly? Where will it land? What kinds of engineers will she meet?As Maya explores the night sky, she discovers how to use science to pilot her balloon. Join Maya on her exciting adventure and experience the wonderof our world!