The Young Teacher and the Great Serpent (Stories from Latin America)

by Irene Vasco (Author) Juan Palomino (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

A stunningly illustrated fable about cultural humility and the transcendent power of stories.

A young teacher sets out for the Amazon rain forest, eager to share geography, science, and math with the remote community of Las Delicias. The town's children love the books the young teacher brings, and yet they keep repeating legends about a great and dangerous serpent. The young teacher can't believe her students still care about that nonsense. But as the river rises, those stories don't seem so strange anymore. Maybe books aren't the only way to discover the wisdom of past generations...

The Young Teacher and the Great Serpent is a poetic, thought-provoking exploration of how stories can protect and guide a community. Bold, dynamic art and lyrical writing will open unforgettable conversations about cross-cultural relationships, the importance of indigenous knowledge, and what it means to be a lifelong learner.

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Hardcover
$18.99

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Kirkus

Starred Review
Undeniably marvelous.

ALA/Booklist

This lovely story about inclusion and community encourages teachers to see themselves as students as opposed to missionaries. Schimel's adept translation is beautifully complemented by the bold, expressionistic artwork.

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3--After many long years of study, one fledgling teacher is finally ready to share her beloved books and knowledge with students far and wide. But when her first assignment takes her from the dense city to a remote community called Las Delicias in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, everything she thought she knew is called into question. This book transports readers into the rainforest through the eyes of a young teacher who has been taught to promote reading, writing, and geography over lore and legend. Lengthy text describes the teacher's harrowing journey to her assignment, frequently emphasizing the importance of her books over the danger she faces. The illustrations bring the legends of the Amazon to vivid life, juxtaposing humans and the jungle in colorful, emotion-filled images. The jungle and its residents are oversized compared to the humans and their settlements, and as the teacher transitions from residence in one locale to the next, readers observe the changes she makes as a result of her embracing the way of life found in her new community. VERDICT This visually compelling tale is a thought-provoking addition to libraries for elementary school-aged readers.--Mary R. Lanni

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes



Irene Vasco
Irene Vasco is a Colombian children's writer, translator, and educator. For many years, she has conducted reading workshops and programs in remote indigenous and agricultural communities. In 2021, the Colombian Ministry of Education recognized Irene's career with its "Life and Work" distinction. Follow Irene on Instagram @irene_vasco or visit her website at irenevasco.com.

Juan Palomino is a prolific Mexican illustrator who started his own illustration teaching program at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. His books have received awards at the Guadalajara and Bologna Book Fairs, and the original edition of The Young Teacher and the Great Serpent was selected for the 2020 Fundación Cuatrogatos Award list. Follow Juan on Instagram @juanpalomino.ilustrador.

Lawrence Schimel has written or translated over 200 books, including Different, Niños, and 9 Kilometers (all Eerdmans). His works have received many awards, including the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award, a PEN Translates Award, and the GLLI Translated YA Book Prize Honor. Lawrence lives in Madrid, Spain. Follow him on Twitter @lawrenceschimel.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780802856173
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Publication date
October 10, 2023
Series
Stories from Latin America
BISAC categories
JUV047000 - Juvenile Fiction | Books & Libraries
JUV039220 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Values & Virtues
JUV030040 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Caribbean & Latin America
JUV074000 - Juvenile Fiction | Diversity & Multicultural
Library of Congress categories
-

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