Book Review-
Bibliography:
Flor Ada, A., & Campoy, I. (2006). TALES OUR
ABUELITAS TOLD: A HISPANIC FOLKTALE COLLECTION (F. Davalos, S.
Guevara, L. Torres, & V. Escriva, Ills.). Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Plot Summary:
This folktale collection of stories has journeyed over
mountains, deserts, and oceans, was carried by the wind, and passed on to the
authors by their ancestors. Now, luckily, they have found their way to us. All the elements of these stories are captivating, and consist
of a sly fox, a bird of a thousand colors, a
magical set of bagpipes, and an audacious young girl, to name a few. The
stories are a mixture of popular tales and literary folklore. This collection
celebrates Hispanic culture and its many roots.
Campoy and Flor Ada have retold 12 stories that
embody the lively spirit and rich heritage of Latino people. The illustrations by Latino artists highlight the collection
by reflecting the cultural heritage of the characters perfectly.
Critical Analysis:
These traditional tales open our hearts to old voices and new
worlds. They introduce us to new adventures, different places and even new
languages. This collection comes in English and Spanish and reflects the
diversity of this Hispanic culture, some developed in Latin America from
Indigenous roots, others origin is in Africa or various regions of Spain and have
Hebrew, Arabic or Basque traditions. The different settings of these folktales may
be Mexico or the Southwest, Puerto Rico, Cuba or the Amazon among others. The diverse
stories would keep students interested and fascinated due to the style of
writing by Flor Ada and Campoy and the detailed illustrations that complement
the stories. These stories stray from typical stories ending in ¨happily ever
after,” and are told by individuals who lives are spent in search of
understanding and compassion and devoted to promoting access and equality for
all, social justice, and peace.
Notable Children’s Book Award Winner
Booklist Starred Review: “The long chatty notes are as
interesting as the 12 folktales in this anthology of stories retold by Ada and
Campoy and illustrated by well-known Latino artists. The authors celebrate
Hispanic culture and its many roots--indigenous, African, Spanish, Arab,
Hebrew--assembling tales from as far afield as Spain and Idaho, and showing how
the tales have transformed and influenced one another, and even how Ada and
Campoy have changed them. The folklore universals are here: the kid who defeats
his mean older brothers; the huge monster routed by an ant; and more. In
"Blancaflor," the evil king's daughter and the young prince fulfill
three tasks together and prove the power of love. The spacious book design will
work well for both independent reading and reading aloud, and each story is
illustrated with one or more full-page pictures in styles that match the
stories--from busy and filled to bursting to light and airy.”
Kirkus Review: “These lovingly collected and beautifully presented tales take
in a wide swath of history and cultures, from Spain, long a crossroads between
Europe and Africa, to North America and Latin America, with their own rich
heritages. Several of the tales, familiar to the authors since childhood, were
actually told by their abuelitas. Each tale is followed by an
often-detailed note on its origins and the decisions the authors made in their
retellings.”
Connections:
-After reading some folktales from the book, the librarian
can lead the students in a discussion about an inclusive society and the many
different cultures that make up our society. Students can also use the book to
compare and contrast their own experiences with ones from the story using a
Venn Diagram or simply drawing.
- Gather other books to show students different cultures in
our world. Other books like this are:
Lamothe, Matt. THIS IS HOW WE DO IT: ONE DAY IN THE LIVES OF SEVEN KIDS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. ISBN 1452150184
Say, Allen. GRANDFATHER’S JOURNEY. ISBN 0395570352
Uegaki, Chieri.
SUKI’S KIMONO. ISBN 1553377524
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