McClellan, Ray. Maori Warriors.

McClellan, Ray.   Maori Warriors.   Scholastic/ Childrens Press   24p   $15.95  978-1-60014-745-6   elem    Series: History's Greatest Warriors. (Scholastic/Childrens)   VG-BNes          

       

The Maoris of New Zealand were truly one of the fiercest of the warrior tribes.  This slim volume offers an excellent insight into the life of Maori warriors through discussions of their battles, training, equipment, and final decline with their adoption of English muskets, which helped decimate their numbers.  The book is profusely illustrated with photographs of contemporary Maoris recreating their cultural mores through their tattoos and clothing.  Maori words are explained in the context of the chapters and there is an English glossary at the end, as well as a bibliography of books and web sites.  The book will serve both as a fascinating look at an unusual people and a high-low introduction to a little-studied area of the world.  This excellent series contains fourteen titles that describe some of the most fearsome warriors around the world.      It is highly recommended for elementary and middle schools.             -– Susan Ogintz