Tales Our Abuelitas Told: A Hispanic Folktale Collection

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 "Señ 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 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.