Product Description

The ancient Mayan belief that the future was divinely decreed and could not be changed is the basis for this original tale of a boy who must defeat the Rain God in a ball game to save his people from disaster. Mayan art and architecture were the inspiration for the spectacular cut-paper artwork.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #232042 in Books
• Published on: 1995-09-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780395720837
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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From Publishers Weekly
Wisniewski's ( Elfwyn's Saga ) latest, inspired by ancient Mayan culture, takes full advantage of his penchant for original folktales rooted firmly in well-researched fact. This interest, together with his instantly recognizable cut-paper artwork (vibrantly colored, its dramatic lighting and photography result in sharply three-dimensional images), have helped him carve a niche in the picture book realm. Here, a boy named Pik challenges Chac, the god of rain, to a game of "pok-a-tok"--a cross between soccer and basketball--in order to avert a foretold drought that would devastate his people. Pik's father gives him three talismans to help in the play-off against the fierce sky god, and with their aid the boy is victorious. It's a satisfying tale, and Pik--a sort of Magic Johnson of the Yucatan--is the kind of impetuous hero with whom young readers will enjoy identifying. Ages 5-9.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 1 Up-- An unusual story of a young Mayan ballplayer who, defying the priest's prophecy of a drought to come in the year ahead, challenges the rain god (Chac) to a game of pok-a-tok (a Mayan basketball/soccer game played on an outdoor court). Equipping himself with the speed of a jaguar (sacred animal to his people), the strength of a beautiful long-plumed Quetzal, and the hidden power of a sacred underground spring, the boy outperforms Chac. The god rewards him by sending gentle showers after his victories on the court. Wisniewski's exquisitely rendered cut-paper illustrations--more intricately crafted than those he created for The Warrior and The Wise Man (Lothrop, 1989)--contain depth and shadows, giving the appearance of an action-filled play. Their harmonious hues are those of the natural world that is the basis of Mayan existence: the browns, grays, and terra cottas of the earth; the blues of the sky and water; the ochres of the sun; and the greens of the foliage. In several places, though, the story skips from one scene to the next, as if the text were written to support the illustrations. Nevertheless, the great beauty of the volume and its lessons on Mayan culture make it a unique and worthwhile purchase. --Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
A unique artist again creates a substantial original tale based on folkloric traditions, meticulously explained in an extensive note. This time the setting is Mayan; the protagonist is Pik, a boy who challenges his culture's fatalism in a ballplaying competition with Chac, the rain god, thus bringing relief to his drought-stricken village. Like the memorable contest in Wisniewski's The Warrior and the Wise Man (1989), Pik's is monumentally heroic and made even more dramatic in the artist's spectacular three-dimensional collages. A strong adventure that will appeal to a broad age range. (Picture book. 5-10) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Customer Reviews

Excellent Story for MesoAmerican/Mayan Study Units.
The Rain Player By Caldecott Award Winner, David Wisniewski is one more example of his fantastic story telling ability across many cultures. This book makes an excellent Read Aloud for use in ancient mesoamerican (particularly Mayan) studies. The author did research the culture before writing.

The astounding paper constructions of David Wisniewski
The chief attraction of "Rain Player" are the pictures by author David Wisniewski, which are made from astounding multilayered paper constructions. Just look at the first two-page spread at the start of the story, where Wisniewski cuts dozens of Mayan characters into the charts and calendars being consulted by the old priest. Then there are the marvelous details on the pots and the sacred figure. If there was half as much detail these pictures would be wondrous indeed. But the story being retold is also pretty good as well and it involves playing one of the most interesting sports of the ancient world.

The story is set after a year of terrible drought at a time when the Mayan people are resigned to starvation. However, there is a young man named Pik, who spends his time playing pok-a-tok with his friends. This was the favorite game of the Mayans, a sort of combination of soccer and basketball, played with a solid rubber ball on a walled court. The goal is to send the ball through stone rings that are on the walls over their heads, but you can only use your padded hips, shoulders, and forearms (not your hands or feet). You might have heard of this game being played where the losers were executed, but usually the winning team just collected the jewelry and clothing of the spectators rather than the heads of their opponents.

But when the Ah Kin Mai projects a year of terrible drought, Pik scoffs. The next thing he knows he is flying above the clouds and being confronted by Chac, the god of rain. The bold Pik proposes a wager: they will lay a came of pok-a-tok. If Pik's team wins two games out of three then the people will earn Chac's forgiveness and it will rain again. But if he loses, Pik will become a frog and croak Chac's name forever. Of course, Pik does not want to be a frog (but as his father points out, Pik should have thought of that before he insulted Chac).

Young readers will anticipate which side will win, but will surprise them is the team that Pik assembles to play the pok-a-tok match. But then mere mortals are not the best teammates when you take on a god. It would be interesting to see more details about playing pok-a-tok, but you can appreciate that showing more than how the goal in each game would be a major task for Wisniewski, who makes sure that each two-page spread offers something different from the others. Because in the end you keep coming back to the stunning artwork of "Rain Player." Actually, it is quite intimidating: I can not imagine deigning to ever trying to cut out anything with construction paper ever again having seen what wonders Wisniewski has wrought here.

A nice addition to our study
We read this as part of our ancient American study of the Mayans. The boys really liked it. The illustrations are superb and bring a lot to the story.

The story itself is sensational, as are most legends/fairy tales, but that's what makes it fun.

Valuable addition to study for the Mayan culture. It makes it very easy for the little ones to feel involved too.

*taken from my review at goodreads