THE TWO MOUNTAINS

Broadly echoing the story of Adam and Eve, Kimmel retells the Aztec legend of Ixcocauqui, son of the sun god, and

Coyolxauhqui, daughter of the goddess of the moon. Temptation has prompted Ixcocauqui to disobey his father's command never to leave the precincts of the jade palace. During his foray beyond the walls, he meets Coyolxauhqui and they fall helplessly in love. Ixcocauqui admits his trespass to his father, who, while mightily displeased, consents to their wedding—as long as they vow never to visit the Earth below, on pain of death. Not surprisingly, the Earth proves too seductive and the two of them are caught and turned into mortals, and Coyolxauhqui dies young. They do remain inseparable, the Aztec story goes, and can be seen today as twin mountains in the Valley of Mexico. No punches pulled here: the workings of fate lay heavily on the page, and the consequences attending defiance are neither small nor laughing matters, visiting Ixcocauqui and Coyolxauhqui with speedy doom. Adding to the air of otherworldliness, Fisher's shimmering artwork gives the gods an elusive, incorporeal quality. Distinguished storytelling by the team that produced The

Three Princes (1994). (Picture book/folkore. 5-9)