Surveys the history, geography, economy, and people of Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico
Books that take place in, are written by, or feature characters from Puerto Rico, an unincorporated US territory.
Old Letivia And The Mountain Of Sorrows
Shunned by superstitious townspeople who are suspicious of her healing gifts, Old Letivia, a wisewoman who lives on the rainforest island of Borinquen, journeys into the forest with her two friends and encounters dangerous tests of her courage.
La Flor de Oro: Un Mito Taino de Puerto Rico (Spanish Edition)
Nina Jaffe’s acclaimed retelling of an Indigenous creation myth about the birth of Puerto Rico, The Golden Flower, in a Spanish edition. The Taínos called their beloved island, Boriquén. This is their story of how Boriquén came to be. In the beginning, there is only a giant mountain above a dry plain without water or plants. A child walking over the flat land below the mountain finds seeds dancing in the wind. When he plants the seeds on the top of the mountain, a forest grows on the crest and in that forest, a large golden flower appears. Soon, the boy and his community reap benefits that they had never before imagined. A joyful creation myth about the evolution of a beautiful island habitat, this picture book is also a celebration of the young boy’s quest, which encourages readers to respect the gifts of the winds and the cycle of nature that bears fruit for the whole community.
El Flamboyan Amarillo
A young boy and his mother go for a walk in the country and are awed by the beauty of a yellow flamboyan tree. After enjoying its company and shade, the child takes one of its seeds with him and plants it. He cares for it over many years and in time the plant grows into a beautiful flowering tree.
La Canción Del Coquí Y Otros Cuentos De Puerto Rico
Three Puerto Rican stories include the title story, which represents the land’s indigenous Tainos; the tale of la Guinea, which is rooted in the nation’s African culture; and la Mula’s tale, a story of Spanish origin.
La Cucarachita Martina
A retelling of the folktale about the criollo cockroach who has many suitors but choses the gentlemanly mouse unaware of his weakness for food. At dinnertime during their first day of marriage, he cannot wait for the meal to be served and jumps into the boiling pot, subsequently dying.
La Fiesta De Melchor / Melchor’s Celebration (Nueve Pececitos, Raices / Nine Small Fishes, Roots) (Raices)
Melchor, el rey custodio de la estrella de Belen, se queda dormido bajo un arbol despues de dejar regalos y haberse comido lo que le dejaron de obsequio en las casas de Puerto Rico. El cielo se queda a oscuras sin la estrella de Belen y comienza entonces la busqueda de Melchor. El niño Carmelo lo encuentra bajo el arbol y todos celebran que aparecio. Desde entonces se hace una celebracion para el Rey Melchor en los dias que siguen al día de Reyes.
Antonio , El Manati De Aqui
Coquí
El solo nombre Coquí evoca la dulce melodía de la ranita que tiene su hábitat en Puerto Rico. Libro hermosamente ilustrado que nos trae el canto nocturno del coquí y la melodía de reinitas, zorzales, gorriones, y ruiseñores, además del batir de alas de mariposas, acrobacias de lagartijos, un arcoiris, una rana con zapatos, un caballito de trapo y unos maizales que, en la imaginación de la autora, se convierten en niñitas con cabellos color de azafrán. Un desfile de ricas imágenes como sólo ésta sabe traer. Libro para enseñar a los pequeños y a los no tan pequeños el amor por la naturaleza y el vivir en armonía con ésta.
Cuando Era Puertorriqueña
Magia, tensión sexual, comedia e intenso drama se mueven dentro de ésta encantadora pero a la vez dura autobiografía; es la historia de una niña que deja a su pueblo en Puerto Rico por la atracción de Nueva York, y una oportunidad para el éxito. “Clara, calladamente poderosa y muy lírica: una historia de verdadera valentía.” – Kirkus Reviews