  | Full Text Reviews: Bulletin for the Center... - 03/01/2007 This collection of twelve tales opens with an introduction describing their cultural origins and discussing the “cultural crossroads” of Spain, with its strategic geographic position and historical role in intercontinental exploration and colonization, and the intersection of indigenous and colonial Spanish culture in the New World. The stories themselves are a combination of old favorites and tales newly discovered during research for the book, and each entry is followed by a narrative commentary from either Campoy or Ada, in which personal reflections, source notes, and editorial license are detailed. The stories themselves range in length from the six-stanza poem “The Castle of Chuchurumbé” to the thirteen-page “The Little Horse of Seven Colors,” and most are set in pastoral mountain landscapes; there’s a good mix of animal characters (including the legendary Ratón Pérez) and humans (including popular figures such as Juan Bobo). Unfortunately, the retellings themselves lack polish, with the dialogue often choppy and the pacing slow; the collection is therefore more useful as a resource for selected tales and as a study in folklore and the historical evolution of folklore. Nonetheless, libraries that offer bilingual storytimes and serve populations who may be familiar with the stories may still get extensive use out of this volume. The stories are sprinkled with illustrations from four different artists of Hispanic descent, each of whom brings a distinct style to the collection; final illustrations not seen. HM - Copyright 2007 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. School Library Journal - 09/01/2006 Gr 3 Up-The introduction to this delightful collection explains clearly how stories develop and change over time; in fact, the two storytellers heard most of these amusing tales when they were children and have retold them many times since in their own unique styles. Each retelling is accompanied by a brief description of its origin. Included are tales about dancing goats, a turtle that outwits a deer, and a beetle that declares war on a cow; all of the selections are peppered with energetic dialogue and witty detail. Children will relish their humor, especially if read aloud, and teens will also enjoy this lively presentation. Traditional story beginnings and endings are provided in Spanish and translated into English, including one foreboding opening: "In a land where you will go but from where you will never return." Four Latino artists provide an interesting variety of illustration. Featured images include a large goat head in a vegetable garden, a large farmer on a very small burro, and a wolf and fox all decked out in finery dancing together. The last page provides information about the authors and illustrators. Many libraries may already have Lucia M. Gonzalez's Se-or Cat's Romance (Scholastic, 2001), but only one tale is common to both collections. Make room on your shelves for this excellent book.-Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma County Library, CA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information. - Copyright 2006 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 09/01/2006 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. - Copyright 2006 Booklist. Loading...
 |