Originally, it was a single long poem. It was only when it was translated to European languages that it received this division.
The books talk about heroes, gods and the creation of life.
The first book describes, among other things, how the gods created life out of the silent nothingness.
The second book two boys plotting the destruction of the 7 Macaws. it seems that without humans to give them purpose, the gods can claim any value.
The third book is about the first attempt to create humans by Hun Hunahpu and Vucub Hunahpu. It also describes the creation of the Sun and the Moon.
During the fourth book, men are finally created.