Relates the traditional Cora Indian tale in which Opossum outwits the larger and more powerful Iguana and returns the stolen fire to the people of the earth.
Relata el cuentro tradicional de India Cora en el cual la Zarigueya es mas astuta que la poderosa y grande Iguana y devuelve el fuego a la gente del mundo.
Folklore and Fairy Tales
The Mythology Of Mexico And Central America
Discusses the mythology from Indians of various regions of Mexico and Central America, describing origins, comparing the similar tales, and presenting some of the myths themselves.
Cuckoo
A traditional Mayan tale which reveals how the cuckoo lost her beautiful feathers.
La Capa Del Morrocoy
Many years ago, when animals had the shape of men, the Caracara and the Hawk celebrated the coming of age of their daughters. They invited the most famous drummer of all, who came with his beautiful yellow and black sequin cape. On the third night of the celebration, the guest enchanted the three loveliest girls… This Guajiro legend explains the origin of butterflies, bees and hummingbirds, and tells why the tortoise carries a shell on its back.
The Rooster Who Went to His Uncle’s Wedding
Rooster, en route to his uncle’s wedding, struggles with the dilemma of whether he should risk of getting dirty in order to obtain a kernel of corn. His hunger overcomes his better judgment and, of course, he winds up “. . . with a beak full of mud.” This leads into a cumulative tale that will be familiar to anyone who knows “The Old Woman and Her Pig” or any number of its variants. In this case, his quest to get clean is nicely circular: the sun, just coming up as the book begins, is the one who agrees to break the chain of refusal, to repay the rooster for greeting him each morning.
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El cumpleaños del San Pedrito
Description in Spanish: Es el cumpleaños del San Pedrito y todos en el bosque se ponen de acuerdo para organizarle una fiesta. La alegría se siente en todas las ramas de los árboles; hay música y comida. Pero llega el guaraguao y trata de arruinarlo todo. Sin embargo, la fiesta sigue porque el valiente pitirre le hace frente a este imponente pájaro y logra salvar la velada.
La Diablesse and the Baby
Winner of both the Alcuin Society Design Award and the Storytelling World Honor Award, this is the eerie and colorful tale of the legendary creature–half human, half demon–that roams the Caribbean night, and how a brave Grandma outwits it.
The Secret Footprints
The Dominican legend of the ciguapas, creatures who lived in underwater caves and whose feet were on backward so that humans couldn’t follow their footprints, is reinvented by Julia Alvarez. Although the ciguapas fear humans, Guapa, a bold and brave ciguapa, can’t help but be curious–especially about a boy she sees on the nights when she goes on the land to hunt for food. When she gets too close to his family and is discovered, she learns that some humans are kind. Even though she escapes unharmed and promises never to get too close to a human again, Guapa still sneaks over to the boy’s house some evenings, where she finds a warm pastelito in the pocket of his jacket on the clothesline.
Atariba and Niguayona: A Story from the Taino People of Puerto Rico
A Taino Indian legend about a young boy and his search for the healing caimoni tree.
Tukama Tootles the Flute: A Tale from the Antilles
When Tukama is captured by a two-headed giant and held prisoner by the giant’s wife, he uses his flute to escape.