Montezuma’s Tantrum – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Aztecs, moods, culture, chocolate, history.
Children’s book title: Montezuma’s Tantrum.
Children’s author: Nuria Gómez Benet.
Children’s illustrator: Santiago Solís.
Translated by: Elisa Amado.
Genre: Children’s fiction.
Published by: Greystone Kids.
ISBN: 9781778400940.
Recommended for children aged: 4-9 year-olds.
First published: Hardback October 2024.
This children’s book is ideal for: reading aloud when learning about the Aztec empire and some of its historical aspects as well as the artistic representation of its civilization. It is also suitable for silent reading and research.
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Our review:
Montezuma is the emperor of the Aztec civilisation, ruler of all he sees, and he is in a mood! Everyone around him is concerned and trying to think of ways to cheer him up and make him happy again.
Maybe some new armour, an extravagant headdress, or even a sacrifice or two, is the solution! Finally, someone has a brainwave: a nice warm drink, xocolátl, and it works! Montezuma is happy again because everyone, even emperors, loves hot chocolate!
Our verdict:
Montezuma’s Tantrum is a brightly illustrated, informative book about the Aztecs, which gives just enough information for younger students to be able to answer historical questions or, for those who are slightly older, to write a simple report.
There is a very useful glossary at the end of the book, and the pictures are easily recognisable as examples of the artwork produced at the time.
The resolution is fairly simple but effective, and through the illustrations, the basic process needed is easy to work out. There is great scope here for cross-curricular activities alongside problem-solving, understanding emotions, and the effect they have on others.
Teaching points and book club discussion ideas:
- Cross-curricular activities could include drawing in the style of the Aztecs in an art lesson – using the book as the starting point for the illustrations.
- Everyone gets the grumps now and again. What is the best way to cheer ourselves, or someone close to us, up?
- Free teacher’s resource pack.
Many thanks to Greystone Kids for the review copy.
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If you like Montezuma’s Tantrum by Nuria Gómez Benet, illustrated by Santiago Solís you might also like: our reviews of Galápagos Islands by Karen Romano Young, The Extraordinary Elements by Colin Stuart, National Geographic Kids Everything KS2 history books and I Ate Sunshine For Breakfast by Michael Holland.
Browse our history genre lists.
