Latin American Books

Jabuti the Tortoise: A Trickster Tale from the Amazon

Gerald McDermott

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Animals -> Reptiles & Amphibians -> Fiction

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Another installment in Gerald McDermott's wise and whimsical trickster series, Jabutí the Tortoise tells the tale of the Amazon jungle's shiny-shelled mischief-maker. Although Jabutí doesn't come across as the most clever trickster around in this particular retelling (he's duped by that crabby old Vulture and ends up getting bailed out by the King of Heaven), the colorful pipe-player and his songs are clearly well loved. Well, by everybody but his victims, that is: "Jaguar could remember when Jabutí tricked him into chasing his own tail," and "Tapir could remember when Jabutí tricked him into a tug-of-war with Whale." But we do get to learn how Tortoise's shell became cracked, and why Toucan, Macaw, and Hummingbird boast such brilliant colors.

Not the most notable entry in this region-by-region series, but beautiful and boldly colored nonetheless. Kids who aren't immediately hooked by Jabutí's story will likely still get drawn in by McDermott's vibrant colors and straightforward compositions of simply shaped jungle creatures set against a bright pink dawn. (Ages 4 to 8) Paul Hughes

Borreguita and the Coyote (Reading Rainbow Books)

Verna Aardema

Amazon Price: $6.99 List Price: $6.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Dragonfly Books Amazon Marketplace: 52 new & used starting at $0.99

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The Borreguita and the Coyote 2 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I so wanted my children to like this book. The artwork is attractive and I like to expose them to literature from other cultures, but they just did not take to it.

Although the story is fresh and has its amusing side, my son would just wonder away and no one (either the 3 y.o. nor the 5 y.o.) asked for it to be read again, even after multiple readings. (I don't assume that they will take to a book the first time.) Further, my daughter, who is the sensitive sort, was bothered by the fact that the coyote wanted to eat poor little borreguita.

We love "Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain" by Verna Aardema but that book has more of a rhythmic cadence that this book lacks and perhaps that is why it was not a hit in my house.

That said, you can see from the other reviews that other children loved it. And it is not that this is not a good book, but if your children are like mine you just might want to try it out at the library first.

Editorial Review:

What's a little lamb to do about a fierce coyote that wants to eat her? Why, trick him, of course...and and trick him again...and trick him one more time! Here's a lively retelling of a Mexican folk tale by master story teller Verna Aardema, illustrated in bold, winning colors by Petra Mathers.

The Golden Flower: A Taino Myth From Puerto Rico

Nina Jaffe

Amazon Price: $10.85 List Price: $15.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Pinata Books Amazon Marketplace: 24 new & used starting at $9.09

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths -> Latin American

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The Golden Flower 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I have read this story to second and third graders and the story keeps them entertained and interested. They have fun predicting what will happen next. The illustrations are true works of art. It can be used to introduce Puerto Rico and also to show that there were native people living in all areas of the "new world" before Europeans arrived. It can be a little tricky discussing a creation myth in a public school setting but the positives outweigh the negatives with this story.

Shelby, 5th Grader, Marietta, GA 3 out of 5 stars.
3 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I am going to tell you what happened, what the book was about and my opinion of the book. Well now that I've told you what I am going to write about, I will tell about the people in the story. The people in the story were very curious and they were really into working together, and I personally thought that were good people.
Now remember that this is a fairy tale, so some of the stuff will be unbelievable. It all started by talking about what it was like in the beginning of the world. Then it started talking about some people who lived on that very dry land and upon that land was a very big mountain or hill. Now there was this little boy who was out one day and found some seeds and planted them on the hill/mountain and days later a big forest started to grow. The boy then noticed and found a round shiny orange ball, he went up to see what it was. Now when I looked at it, I thought it was a pumpkin but I was wrong. Somewhat close to the end of the story 2 men came up top steal the ball and when they got both up there they started fighting over it and it busted. And surprise the ocean came out of it. There were whales, dolphins, crabs, sunfish and many more, and then they lived happily ever after.
I think the book was mostly about just being able to read a funny and exciting book. About how our world was supposedly made and the people who soon adapted to the situation and learned how to fish.
My opinion of this book would be probably ok. I would definitely not recommend this book to fast readers or kindergarten or first graders. But I would recommend this book to someone who has a lot of imagination.
Well that's all for my book report. If you would like to read this book, it is called the Golden Flower, by Nina Jaffee. I thank you for listening.

Editorial Review:

A myth from one of the indigenous cultures of the West Indies explains how a golden flower first brought water to the world and how Puerto Rico came into existence.

Cuentos de la selva (Diferencias)

Horacio Quiroga

Amazon Price: $9.90 List Price: $11.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Linkgua S.L. Amazon Marketplace: 17 new & used starting at $7.95

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

bilingual teacher's saving grace 5 out of 5 stars.
13 of 13 people found this review helpful.

What can a bilingual teacher do when s/he notices that students look bored during read aloud? If they are in grades 2 or above, whip out Cuentos de la selva, a collection of stories about animals in the jungles of South America. Start with "El loro pelado". That will captivate them completely. After that, they will enjoy all other stories. Any student with a 5th grade reading level can read and enjoy the stories independently. I would like to thank Amazon.com for finding this book for me. I tried several other publishers, and they were unable to find me this gem.

Cuentos de la Selva para sonar... 5 out of 5 stars.
9 of 10 people found this review helpful.

Excelente, lo lei cuando nina, en Chile. Es un libro que transporta, que hace sonar. Personifica animales, les da vida... es muy lindo.

Magical stories that captivate children & adults. 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful.

It's a must read for people interested in latin american folklore, mythology and man's battle with nature.

Editorial Review:

Este es un libro de relatos infantiles protagonizados por animales y ambientados en la selva de Misiones. Quiroga dedicó este libro a sus hijos, con quienes vivió un período de pobreza en un húmedo y pequeño sótano.

Golden Tales

Lulu Delacre

Amazon Price: $5.99 List Price: $5.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Scholastic en Espanol Amazon Marketplace: 47 new & used starting at $1.50

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General AAS
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths -> Latin American

Editorial Review:

This lush collection of twelve traditional Latin American tales brings the history and culture of thirteen countries into a vivid new perspective. Readers will have a unique glimpse of the early indigenous cultures, and of the literature that later blossomed with the blending of the Spanish and Native cultures.

So Say the Little Monkeys

Nancy Van Laan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

My boys love this book! 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

Never mind the review that says this for age 3+. My 14 month old won't go to bed until we've read this at least three times. He's barely talking but he picks up the books and says "Whee!" And his older brother (age 4) chimes in with the "Jibba Jibba Jabba" every time!

A Fun Read 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Both my three year old daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's rhyming verse is fun to read and the pictures are captivating. The actual story of how the carefree monkeys avoid making their night-time nests is light-hearted and amusing. My daughter and I borrowed this entertaining book from our local library. We liked it so well that I intend to buy it for her collection of favorites.

Editorial Review:

JUMP, JABBA JABBA, RUN, JABBA JABBA, MUNCH, JABBA JABBA, Tiny, tiny monkeys having fun! But when are they going to remember to build themselves a shelter from the rain, PLINKA PLINKA, and the wind, WOOYA WOOYA, and - scariest of all - the jaguar, GURR-YUH GURR-YUH? Surely not when they can play! Based on a tale from the Brazilian rain forest about blackmouth monkeys, SO SAY THE LITTLE MONKEYS is a completely irresistible read-aloud that also contains a gentle message: Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today.

Emerald Lizard (World Storytelling)

Pleasant DeSpain

Amazon Price: $11.16 List Price: $13.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: August House Amazon Marketplace: 32 new & used starting at $3.20

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The Emerald lizard, Fifteen Latin American Tales to Tell 5 out of 5 stars.
44 of 44 people found this review helpful.

Finally, a Latin American collection of tellable tales that is full of variety (15 different cultures and countries)and enlivened tales. I'm a true fan of DeSpain's books because I find them so useful in the classroom. This collection is one of his best as the stories elicit so much interest in Latin America. Also, DeSpain says that he writes his versions down after telling them aloud for some time. I believe him. These read like they're being told.

Relearn Spanish with enjoyment 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I read these stories when seeking a painless way to brush up my Spanish, after quickly getting totally bored with online "Spanish for tourists" programs. The stories turned out to be a varied and delightful peek into Latin American culture. If you already know some Spanish, I recommend reading the Spanish version first, then going back and reading the English to see what you missed. Read them out loud to practice speaking.

Editorial Review:

For the past three decades, Pleasant DeSpain has explored Latin Americaf_its countries, countrysides, customs, cultures, and especially, its stories. While his repertoire of traditional world folktales includes narratives from almost every culture around the globe, DeSpain's talent shines even brighter when relating the legends from Latin America. His exploration of the heart and soul of this enormous region demonstrates his passion for Latin America and its people and their stories. The fifteen ....

The Boy Who Wouldn't Obey: A Mayan Legend

Amazon Price: $13.49 List Price: $17.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Greenwillow Amazon Marketplace: 28 new & used starting at $6.78

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Authors & Illustrators, A-Z -> ( R ) -> Rockwell, Anne

Editorial Review:

According to Mayan legend, Chac is one of the gods of the sky who control rain, wind, thunder, and lighting. With his bottomless gourd of rain, his bag of winds, his booming drum, and his flashing ax, Chac is a mighty lord. But all his powers can't give him the patience to handle a mischievous mortal boy he plucks from the forest to be his servant. This particular boy rarely does what he's told on Earth, much less in the heavens...

Mariana and the Merchild: A Folk Tale from Chile

Caroline Pitcher

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Beautiful for sharing 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Invite a little one onto your lap to share the lovely illustrations in this tale from Chile! The paintings are magical and perfectly complement a story that will appeal to young children who enjoy folk and fairy tales.

A beautiful story! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book for my three-year-old because her teacher's name is Mariana and hoped the book would be good. It did not disappoint. This is a beautiful and moving story about a lost merbaby bringing new life to a lonely old woman. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous. My daughter enjoys this book, but Mama absolutely loves it. I hope that it will become a favorite of my daughter over the years.

Editorial Review:

Old Mariana longs for friendship, but she is feared by the village children and fearful of the hungry sea-wolves that hide in the sea-caves near her hut. When one day Mariana finds a Merchild inside a crab shell her whole life changes --but she knows that one day, when the sea is calm again, the Merchild's mother will come to take her daughter back...

Creepy Creatures and Other Cucuys

Xavier Garza

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror -> Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror -> Spine-Chilling Horror

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Have you ever been too scared to sleep with the lights off? Were you frightened by a scratching sound inside of your walls or the beady red eyes and knotted green fingers of a duende? In his first collection of scary stories, Xavier Garza asks us these questions.

The stories in this collection curdle with the creepy and crawling characters of traditional folklore. These stories brim with the supernatural: the mysterious disappearance of children who made deals with duendes, evil trolls who live inside the walls of our houses; the ghostly specter of La Llorona who floats along the creek bed, howling, "¡Ay, mis hijos!"; witches that turn into great white owls; a severed hand that hurtles across floors and catches a death grip; and even the Devil himself harvesting wayward souls.

These are all cucuys, supernatural beings who have come to haunt the imagination in these tales of wonder and warning. These delicious and frightful stories come down through generations of grandmas teaching children to respect the laws of nature and the All Powerful.