Here are a few resources than can be used by teachers in connection with The Smoking Mirror
- El espejo humeante, the Spanish version of The Smoking Mirror
- Glossary for The Smoking Mirror (now with an audio recording!)
- Detailed synopsis of The Smoking Mirror (spoilers aplenty!)
- Related readings
- The Mayan Hero Twins story from the Popol Vuh
- Description of the Aztec Underworld from the Florentine Codex
- Mesoamerican day signs (Information about them, plus how you can learn your sign, your tonal, and your possible nagual form. Great project idea included.)
- Discussion questions
- Character overviews
- Resources (author recordings, etc.) from TeachingBooks.net
- Presentations, Interviews and Reviews
- Guest blog post at Latin@s in Kid Lit about Garza Twins
- Audio of most of my October 2015 presentation at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley as part of Hispanic Heritage Month.
- In July of 2015, The Monitor talked to me about The Smoking Mirror
- Author and editor Sabrina Vourvoulias interviewed me on April 10, 2015 for the magazine Al Día
- Author Jason Henderson interviewed me on February 17, 2015 for the Castle of Horror Podcast.
- A brief review of The Smoking Mirror from issue 53.3-2015 of Bookbird: A Journal of International Children’s Literature.
- A review of The Smoking Mirror appeared on La Bloga on April 16, 2015
- A review of The Smoking Mirror appeared at Latinx in Kid Lit on January 19, 2017
- Other useful links
- Mexiclore has a ton of resources on the Aztecs for students and teachers
- Kid Info has also gathered lots of great facts about the Aztecs and Maya
- Learn about Monterrey, Mexico, at All about Monterrey
- Geo-Mexico has great information about the García Caves (though they fail to mention the Little People, heh)
Hello,
Is there a chapter summary guide because my special education students can’t keep up with the readings.
Thank you
Sue, since your students need one, let me see about putting one together. Thanks for reaching out!
While not a chapter-by-chapter summary, I have uploaded a detailed synopsis: http://davidbowles.us/books/author/mg-ya/garza-twins/synopsis-of-the-smoking-mirror/
Hi, we are struggling with pronunciation of a lot of words. Is there anyway we can get a pronunciation guide?
I’ve added a recording of myself pronouncing key names and terms: http://davidbowles.us/books/author/mg-ya/garza-twins/glossary-for-the-smoking-mirror/
I agree with Sue Willieford. My diverse learner students are also having difficulties keeping up with the reading. If you put something together that can help me and my students I will appreciate it. Thank you
My e-mail address is daowens@cps.edu
I’ve added a recording of myself pronouncing key names and terms: http://davidbowles.us/books/author/mg-ya/garza-twins/glossary-for-the-smoking-mirror/
While not a chapter-by-chapter summary, I have uploaded a detailed synopsis: http://davidbowles.us/books/author/mg-ya/garza-twins/synopsis-of-the-smoking-mirror/
Is this book available in Spanish? I have students who recently arrived from Latin America and only speak Spanish.
The Spanish version actually publishes in one month, on October 3.
Please forward the link to buy the Spanish version. I need two Spanish copies of the book asap. Thank you!
https://www.amazon.com/Espejo-Humeante-Gemelos-Garza-Spanish/dp/1922556874
Im so glad I found this thread! My students love this book! And I can’t wait to get the Spanish version! Are there any audiobooks available?
Are there any resources you recommend for finding short and age appropriate descriptions of the different gods in Aztec mythology?
I am teaching 5th graders this novel and would love to allow them to explore the gods/goddesses as they read the book!
Your best bet at the moment is Mexicolore: https://www.mexicolore.co.uk/aztecs/resources/
Are there any audiobooks or a condensed version? My students would benefit from these supports. Thank you.